Customer Reviews

Far From the Madding Crowd

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Far from the Madding Crowd is the third album of Danish band Wuthering Heights. This band has evolved from album to album; while their first one Within was a lot more proggier, the second one To Travel for Evermore signalled the band's shift towards a more power metal-oriented style. And now with their new one, they have become a more straightforward power metal act, but quite different from the typical Euro power bands out there. A very subtle Celtic influence abounds the songs throughout the entire album with a rather aggressive new vocalist: Nils Patrik Johansson. Former Tad Morose, Memento Mori and Fifth Reason singer Kristian Andren is gone and replaced with a more suitable frontman for the band's current musical ambitions.

Wuthering Heights is guitarist Erik Ravn's band. Ravn not only composes all songs, but he also writes the lyrics. It's been this way since their debut Within (1999) and seems unlikely to change any time soon. He does let his new bandmates add their own flavour but after listening to this band for a few times the Erik Ravn touch is easily recognised.

The new singer Nils Johansson has a voice that draws comparisons to vocal idols such as Ronnie James Dio and Russel Allen from Symphony X. It may just be me, because of the folk themes of the songs, but I am also reminded of Martin Walkyier from Skyclad. Harry Conklin of Jag Panzer also comes to mind during the more aggressive parts of his vocal delivery. Since all these singers I mentioned are big favourites of mine, it is difficult to ignore such a talented vocalist. As much as I like former singer Kristian Andren's unique style more, I think Nils is a better fit considering the type of metal they have chosen to play on Far from the Madding Crowd. Then again, Nils wouldn't work on the band's first album Within, which is a very prog-laden disc with slight neoclassical interludes and more complex songwriting approach.

The inclusion of flute and symphonic strings that introduce us to the first song "Gather Ye Wild" ties in seamlessly with one of the strongest and catchiest tunes of the album: "The Road Goes Ever On". These Celtic ingredients are available on each and every track but they never take away from the songcraft. The music on this disc borrows a lot of speed metal riffs and combines them with catchy melodies displaying galloping power metal riffs and some neoclassical lead guitar work which was also present on the previous discs. The folk theme runs through all the compositions adding its flavour and defining the sound of this record.

The centrepiece of the album is without question the "Longing for the Woods" trilogy but the tracks are independent of each other. One of them is used in the beginning, the other one is in the middle and the last one is towards the end of the CD. They all contain the same chorus and this is a central motive anchoring the three parts together into a single epic. It could be argued that the choruses being identical in all three songs is a deterrent factor but I personally like it a lot cause it gives the album a sense of unity.

Producer Tommy Hansen (Helloween, Pretty Maids) has done an outstanding job here and this may be the best Wuthering Heights disc production-wise. While I still like their obscure debut Within the best, I think Far from the Madding Crowd has a more appealing value to power metal fans that look for something different. This is particularly recommended to fans of Skyclad, Symphony X, Blind Guardian and Falconer.

With the amount of cd's in my collection over the years it's hard to get an album that blows me away. I always loved the Scorpions and then Talisman, those guys rock. Then along the way I stumbled on the Progressive-Power metal of Rhapsody which was so fresh and good. Finally we get to Wuthering Heights. WOW!
Especially if you are a fan of Rhapsody this should appeal to you. Not the same voice of Fabio Leone but more along the lines of a harsher Ronnie James Dio but it works very well. To me some of these songs would have fit right into a Rhapsody cd. More of a Celt twist to it though. (Think Village of the Dwarves from the Dawn of Victory cd). Sample the tracks on amazon.de (German site)

This third album in their trilogy is lightyears ahead of its predecessors. The songs are less prog oriented and more straight ahead with catchy choruses and more overtones of celtic influence. More AOL friendly (that is, if celtic sounding metal was in vogue). The lead singers voice is a reminder of Ronnie James Dio when hitting high notes and reminds me of Masters of Reality on the low key softer (spoken) parts. The album has moments of intense speed oriented metal and has moments of a Falconer/Finntroll celtic riffs. The alternation of speed and mellow breaks up and makes a more interesting album out of what could've been a rather mediocre album such as the previous release which was, in my mind, lackluster and ....well....average. In two words this album is "more focused". Hope this helped make your decision to buy it. If you don't, its your loss.

this cd is far better than thier first two by far. the new vocalist always is a big plus. could be used as sort of a heavy metal soundtrack for lord of the rings. a must have for fans of symphony x and blind guardian

Do not pay any attention to my email address, I made this account before I got into the underground.

This band is a breath of fresh air in the genre of power metal, a genre that bands are starting to sound the same. This is real, epic, beautiful power metal. It tells a story, and tells it well.

I recommend that you buy this cd. It is very very worth it.

There are few words to describe just how much I enjoyed this CD. Most of all, I ask: why aren't more bands this good?