![\"Marius](\"http:\/\/powerofmetal.dk\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Marius-Danielsen-Legend-of-Valley-Doom-e1445694057334.jpg\")
<\/a>\nFact 1: I love thought-through concept albums. No matter which genre of music it comes from.
\nFact 2: I love the early Helloween albums (1985 to circa 1991)… but not the endless stream of clones that emerged in their slipstream since then.<\/p>\n
And why is that relevant? Well, because the Norwegian brothers Marius (vocals\/guitars\/bass) and Peter Danielsen (synth\/backing vox), both active in the band Darkest Sins, have pulled together a power metal opera, enlisting a multitude of power metal musicians. Like…40 of them or something. Apparently, it’s taken somewhere in the vicinity of ten years to get all of this together, but I’m sure it has been worth the wait for all you power metal fanatics out there.<\/p>\n
I’m in no way a power metal buff, but I automatically reckon when people like Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens, Mark Boals (Dokken, ex-Malmsteen, Edu Falaschi (Almah, ex-Angra, Chris Caffery (Savatage\/TSO), Ross the Boss (DeathDealer, ex-Manowar), Robb Weir (Tygers of Pan Tang), Mike LePond (Symphony X) and Alex Holzwarth (Rhapsody of Fire)\u00a0are on the long list of musicians involved, there has to be something good in this – even if you’re not really a fan of all of these bands.<\/p>\n
There’s nothing new in bands sounding a lot like Helloween. We’ve had shitloads of bands who did that since around 1987.\u00a0This is also the case for this ambitious project; this is in truth power metal for better or for worse. In that sense it holds no originality what so ever. The folk elements added (Haunting My Dreams) aren’t exactly new either (although it sounds good).\u00a0The Manowar element is certainly also there – just listen to the narrated part of the title track of the album and Lost in a Dream – the Kings of Metal are lurking in the background.<\/p>\n
For all it’s worth, this for me is like a reminder of some of the music that was a big part of my initial years as a metal fan. It’s nostalgia, by all accounts,\u00a0and something that isn’t as close to me as it was,\u00a0but it is also a bunch of musicians who live and breathe this genre, and the Danielsen brothers have orchestrated this professionally.<\/p>\n
For the\u00a0fan of epic power metal, this has to be a must. For the rest of us, there’s room for approving nods in recognition of someone who have\u00a0accomplished pulling together a host of fine musicians and created a great concept.<\/p>\n
Tracklist:<\/h4>\n
01. Intro
\n02. The Battle of Bargor-Zun
\n03. The Prophecy of the Warrior King
\n04. Chamber of Wisdom
\n05. Mirror of Truth
\n06. Haunting My Dreams
\n07. The Legend of Valley Doom
\n08. Lost In A Dream of No Return
\n09. Raise Your Shields
\n10. Free as the Wind
\n11. The Fallen Heroes of Our Land
\n12. Outro<\/p>\n
Playing time<\/strong>: 64 minutes<\/p>\n Release date<\/strong>: 13th of November, 2015<\/p>\n Label<\/strong>: Crime Records<\/p>\n Website<\/strong>: mariusdanielsen.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"