Ever since Bal-Sagoth was found back in the early 1990`s the band plays a kind of epic black-death metal which I really appreciate. Each Bal-Sagoth release tells us a different story, strongly influenced by dark fantasy or science fiction. So it will not be a surprise when I tell you that "Atlantis Ascendant" has also become a concept album of this British band. And it also won`t sound as a surprise when I tell you that this release is full of the epic black-death metal that we were used to. But this time Bal-Sagoth chose to be influenced by some other kinds of metal to. Black-metal parts are combined with some classical heavy-metal pieces. But don`t be afraid. The more orchestral keyboard parts are still there. I also noticed a little bit of folk influences in some of their songs, and even a flute ("The Dreamer in the Catacombs of Ur", great song by the way). Vocally there also happens a lot on this release.

The typical death-black screams vocalist / lyricist produces are combined with more threatening whispering vocals. Besides that there also is a storyteller-voice we might know from the Ayreon projects. This really has become a varied release of this true British war-metal band as they call themselves. Only it`s a bit of a shame that I didn`t get the lyrics this time. So I just have to guess the story. When you like bands as Ayreon, Children of Bodom and Skyfire you really should give this release a try. Lets all hope that Bal-Sagoth will be coming to one of our great venues in a short while. I`m pretty sure I will be standing in front of the stage waving my plastic sword that I specially bought for the Hammerfall gig in Hardenberg. But the nice security man wouldn`t let me in with the damn thing. "Better luck next time", he said. You bet I will be carrying this one under my clothes next time.