Fallen Empire [Import]

Altaria | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 2, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• ASIN: B000E6TXA8
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #694,267 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars In the mould of Sonata Arctica / Stratovarius., April 3, 2007

By 

Murat Batmaz (Istanbul, Turkey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Fallen Empire (Audio CD)

Finland's Altaria made a name for themselves when former Sonata Arctica guitarist Jani Liimatainen joined them, releasing a couple of albums which heavily drew on the Sonata Arctica sound, but since Liimatainen's exit, they have tried to remove themselves from the fast double-bass-driven power metal to a more midtempo sound. The use of keyboards has significantly decreased, though it still exists to add an extra dimension to the music.

The vocals of Taage Laiho mimic that of the high-pitched power metallers', but he also makes use of his midrange. Unfortunately, some of the lyrics sung in the choruses are truly embarrassing, even by power metal standards. The oft-repeated main chorus of "Valley of Rainbows" makes it a hard listen, not only do the lyrics go nowhere, they are also hard to understand. Secondly the harmonies don't stand out much due to the less than average production. Forming member Tony Smedjebacka's drums certainly deserve a fuller and more powerful sound -- and the twin guitar harmonies of earlier albums have taken a back seat. Also, the power ballads of the band are weaker and more derivative than ever. "Frozen Hearts" is terribly 80's pop-rock sounding save for its distorted twin guitars while the syrupy melodic opening of "The Lion" is totally hilarious given the song actually addresses the "king of the jungle". So much for interesting subject matter. The European version of the CD comes with the bonus track "The Dying Flame", which sounds like a leftover from their previous sessions with Liimatainen. Heavy with synth melodies and a nice guitar crescendo, it is obvious Altaria owe much of their sound to this guy. Even though merely a ballad, because of its acoustic arrangement and string attachment, it has a stronger staying power. The inclusion of slightly folky vocal lines, the duel between keys and guitars, and the anthemic melodies make for a far more interesting experience than the rest of the album.

Altaria is nothing to write home about. Just another power metal band that still needs to carve their own niche in an oversaturated genre.

3.0 out of 5 stars Yes, I like a song called "The Valley of Rainbows", February 14, 2011

By 

John. N (Big Run, PA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Fallen Empire (Audio CD)

Altaria's a band I was introduced to through its past connections with big ticket bands like Sonata Arctica and Nightwish. While the members from those bands have since departed (ex-Sonata Arctica guitarist Jani Liimatainen is surprisingly credited with co-writing the music for "Abyss of Twilight") The Fallen Empire is perhaps their best effort even though it doesn't exactly radiate with the kind of individuality needed to define itself in the crowded Euro metal scene.

The star cuts from the album include the aforementioned "Abyss of Twilight," "Showdown" and, um... the, err... "Valley of Rainbows." As if that last title didn't clue you in, Altaria's music's full of the obligatory cheese and other trimmings you'd expect from a band hailing from the European scene, and while it does become an issue in some tracks, especially the slower pieces like "Frozen Hearts," "The Chosen One" and "Access Denied," after a certain point you just stop caring because all music, no matter where it comes from, bows to certain preconceived notions. Outside the "big three" above, "Crucifix," "The Lion," and "Outlaw Blood" are solid, mid-range tracks that are capable of keeping the experience on the positive side of the spectrum.

Still, while I like this release (much more than 2004's Divinity) and the band as a whole, I have to point out that it's really vocalist Taage Laiho that brings everything together for me. Unfortunately, this is the last Altaria release with Laiho at the helm due to the band's massive upheaval after leaving the Metal Heaven label. Beyond this point the band would pretty much ditch the keyboards and the European flavoring in exchange for an (perhaps even more generic) 80's rock approach. As disappointing as that was, The Fallen Empire has something to offer those that are willing to stop and listen even though it can't really stack up with the genre's top offerings.