Although the sheer brilliance of Mägo De Oz normally gets me into an eloquent mood I’m afraid I will be pretty short this time; neither because this is a bad album, nor because I do not enjoy this album but because there really isn’t much new on Belfast. I had expected a bit more from this than some good cover songs and several rehashed songs. Then again I’m not a big fan of covers and I’m definitely not a big fan of rehashing.

What then can you expect from this Spanish folk metal outfit? A very cool version of “Lady In Black” from Uriah Heep (“Dama Negra”), sung completely in Spanish and a very weird version of “Belfast” (Boney M.) where you will have a hard time recognizing the band at all. This track also makes it painfully clear why Mägo De Oz should stick to Spanish; Jose’s accent is pretty horrific. If you need more proof I will advice you to simply listen to the final track of Belfast and shudder.

After this we get treated on a metal version of “La Rosa De Los Vientos” which sounds slightly heavier than the normal version but that’s about it. We’re also treated on some orchestral versions of “Alma” and “Hasta Que Ta Muerte Nos Separe”; really nice but definitely nothing groundbreaking.

Other covers are the rocking “Dame Tu Amor” (“Guilty Of Love”) from Whitesnake, “Todo Ira Bien” (“Falling In Love”) from Elvis, “Mujer Amante” from Rata Blanca and the dreadful (and I mean dreadful in the worst sense of the word) “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”.

Belfast is a nice album to add to your collection if you are a diehard Mägo De Oz fan but otherwise I wouldn’t bother with it. Simply wait a bit longer till they’ll release their new masterpiece and save yourself some money.