TWILIGHTNING

The quality of Finnish power metal is well-known far beyond the borders of the "land of a thousand lakes." STRATOVARIUS have long been the flagship Finnish metallers, and SONATA ARCTICA, with four albums under their belt and a Nuclear Blast contract, have also entered the world's power elite. Now the six-piece TWILIGHTNING is pulling up to their more renowned countrymen with their new, second full-length album "Plague-House Puppet Show." You certainly can't accuse them of copying their colleagues — STRATOVARIUS bypassed melodic power and jumped to symphonic, while SONATA ARCTICA were always a melodic act — our heroes, on the other hand, gravitate toward power bordering on heavy. Excellent memorable melodies and superb guitar solos leave no doubt about the songwriting and performing abilities of the musicians. The tempo of the compositions is mostly mid-paced, but there's not a hint of monotony. The keyboards present in the mix don't push to the forefront, occasionally creating interesting passages reminiscent of '80s rock bands.