Review by Jack on February 14, 2005.

Arkheth are an unfortunate case, creating music in the wrong era and at the wrong time. Hymns of a Howling Wind is exactly what you would expect from a read through the track listing and lyrics: cold and grim black metal. The sort Arkheth play rose to prominence in the mid-to-late 1990’s, in a scene which saw Emperor, Dimmu Borgir, Old Man’s Child and Borknagar turn heads.

Seven years earlier and Hymns of a Howling Wind may have been a landmark record for Australian black metal, and quite possibly black metal the world over. However, we’re in 2004 and Arkheth are unfortunately dishing up a record that is too predictable – the bleak atmospheres, the gritty production (which does work well), the clichéd black metal rasp, etc. It’s your basic black metal album.

For all their predictability, Arkheth are a talented outfit. One knows what he’s going to get with Hymns of a Howling Wind, so if you’re the kind of person who lives and breathes the sort of shit that Old Man’s Child and Emperor used to serve up, then look no further, Arkheth do it well.

Hymns is certainly a mixed bag; on one hand, we have a record that is too familiar for those of us who are well-versed in metal lore, but on the other hand, Arkheth have made a sturdy black metal record.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 7
Atmosphere: 6
Production: 7
Originality: 4
Overall: 6

Rating: 5 out of 10

Review by Jack on March 20, 2002.

Edguy is a German power metal band that is featured within the same vein of pompousness as Sonata Artica and whilst better than Sonata Artica, they both do not possess the same mastery over their metal that innovative bands like Rhapsody do. However, do not make the mistake of thinking that Edguy are not brilliant musicians, because that line of thought could not be further from the truth. The pit-fall that Edguy (and Sonata Artica) fall into is a willingness to not expand and open their horizons. I mean we have all heard Stratovarious before, why must we listen again and again and again?

Tobias Sammet of Avantasia-fame created a brilliant album in “The Metal Opera” (all be it with some help from some other celebrity power metal folks). It was a stand out album and definitely worthy of album of the month at Metalbite.com. Why in the hell did he come together with the rest of Edguy and put together such a disappointing album in “Mandrake"? Edguy as a collective possess an extraordinary amount of talent, yet let themselves down as a band with writing tired music with boring and unimaginative chorus/choir sections.

It is ridiculously frustrating to see Edguy, who have the potential to strive and reach for the power metal throne, write some pretty mediocre stuff. If Edguy were some untalented and worthless power metal band I wouldn’t care, as “Mandrake” is not an overly bad album, it is just sad that Edguy have not fully realized their potential.

Bottom Line: If it was most other bands, I could probably get away with recommending this album, but being the talented outfit that Edguy are it is extremely hard to say this album is worth a look because of the frustrating abilities of these guys. Still if you are craving more “Silence” from Sonata Artica than give this album a look. Very, very average record from a very, very above average outfit.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 5
Production: 8
Originality: 3
Overall: 4

Rating: 5.8 out of 10