Customer Reviews

Return to Heaven Denied

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have had this cd for around a month now, and it has to be one of the greatest Rock/Meta cd's I own. It has the melodic guitar riffs wih the power vocals. I listen to a lot of bands from all over the world, and this Italian Metal band really is a top choice for all Metalheads!

This Italian band has created a true masterpiece with this epic release. If ever there was a doubt in anyone's mind that Italy could not produce excellent progressive music, let them all be laid to rest. Excellence in composition, musicianship, vocal technique, and just plain old kick-ass heaviness are all on glorious display on this masterful album. "Moonlight", the opening track slowly builds up then grabs you by the throat with stunning power and instrumentation. Other key tracks include "The Night of Dreams" and "Thunder". Unfortunately, these guys may never make a huge splash here in the states, but to all those who's musical tastes rise above the norm, Labyrinth will always be held in the highest esteem. Grab this CD and elevate your auditory senses.

there are good cds. there are great cds. there are masterpieces. Then there are "those" cds. These cds are above and beyond masterpieces. They are everything a masterpiece is and more. These cds are very rare and if you find one, then your lucky. Labyrinth's Return To Heaven Denied is one such cd. This is easily one of the greatest things to ever be recorded.

The guitar riffs are some of the most scorching riffs you will EVER hear. Power Metal isn't often known for it's aggresivness but this cd is frickin' fast at times where it could be considered thrash and it's oh so heavy. The drumming on this album is a powerhouse of all it's own. One thing power metal is known for is it's excessive use of double bass. This has plenty of that of course but all the other drums are very strong too. You can just feel the power he puts in hitting each snare, bass drum, cymbol, etc etc.

The keyboards are very nicely done. They are not over used and they meld perfectly with the heavy guitars, making an atmosphere all it's on.

Tyrant...other than the stratovarius singers, the is the best power metal singer ever.

When I first heard Labyrinth, I was blown away by the vocal stylings of Rob Tyrant. Granted this is an earlier album than the one I originally heard, meaning that his voice isn't as matured and refined as it is today. Still, one can truely hear that he is a vocalist of the highest order who will soon be in the same class as the spectacular Russel Allen (SymX) and the great John West (Artension).
The guitar harmonies are perfect for the songs and the arrangements are simply divine. If anyone wants to argue the point, just listen to Thunder and Falling Rain again. I was absolutely floored by this album. It easily beats out the follow up, which is an unrealized album.
If you are looking for mind blowing power/prog with a vocalist so steeped in emotion, with melodies that make you want to scream/cry, this is the album for you. No chances are taken and the album follows the usual formula, but who needs change when its done this well?

These guys are awesome,from the vocals,to the guitars to the drums,everything here is excellent.this italian band is a true powerhouse,I'm sure that anyone who likes power metal would not only like this,but truly love it. the guitar player olaf thorsen loves to make great riffs and melodic violin like effects with the guitar (also using impressive guitar solos) and his song writting skills are fabulous,for example "state of grace","Night of dreams" or the ballad "Falling rain" which is a beautifull song(my favorite one of lab˙rinth so far) display a great sense of melodic virtuosity inside the metal genre,this is probably one of the most melodic power metal bands I've ever heard that can combine power and fluid melodies so well,mainly by the use of great guitar harmonization and riffs,but lets not forget the rest of the band,the vocals are simply awesome,these are very dificult songs for a vocalist to sing properly,this guy really shows that he's a highly skilled singer,there are also awesome keyboards in every single song,(you should pay attention to the great keyboard interludes and backing sound layers) Thorsen has also formed another band called "Vision Divine" along with Fabio Lione the vocalist from "Rhapsody" and "Athens",I really affirm that if you like this (you surely will)you should accquire the "Vision Divine" album,which is mind blowing a simply awesome cd.

True Italian metal at it's finest - soaring vocals, complex musicianship, and fine songwriting! This CD has not left my top 5 circulation CD's since it's purchase. Definately would rate this higher than 5 stars!!!

I always forget about this awesome band when I go to pick a CD to listen to. Normally, I reach for Norther, Graveworm, or a new CD that I haven't decided how good it is yet. Those few times that Return to Heaven Denied is the chosen CD to get to my stereo or CD player, I'm blown away by what I hear. Not only is Labyrinth one of the fastest bands I've heard (Dragonforce and Skylark being faster), but they sound so beautiful when they play fast! Imagine older Stratovarius for the speed part.

I also must make note of the melodicness. This doesn't mean that the guitar riffs are well written by any means. The keyboards particularly in songs 1-6 and 11 are so perfectly woven in. Unlike bands like Sonata Arctica, the constant keyboards belong in the sound. I know - Sonata Arctica isn't a good example, but that's all I can think of. While I'm comparing the 2, Sonata Arctica is better. Why? Because ALL of Sonata Arctica's albums are great. Labyrinth only has this one. I hate the production and lack of keyboards on their newer self-titled album. That album would get 3 or less stars from me.

Labyrinth's singer is wonderful. He is no Fabio Lione, but he compliments the drums and keyboards well. You really have to hear it to believe it. This doesn't sound like Secret Sphere, Rhapsody, Skylark, Arachnes, or Highlord. This is more like common power metal with an Italian voice than something you would normally hear coming out of Italy. A lot of credit goes to Labyrinth for this album. The perfectly done keyboards in tracks 1 and 3 alone should catch your attention. Also, I think its track 5 - the singer holds one note for 10 whole seconds! Certain stand-out points like this help this album be such a gem in melodic power metal. Milestone? No - there aren't many of those. "Gem" is good enough. My idea of a milestone is something like Hatebreeder, Visions, Winterheart's Guild, When the Aurora Falls, or Keeper of the Seven Keys, Part I. When something that hasn't been done before is accomplished to near perfection, THAT'S a milestone.

So overall, if you don't have this album yet and want to fill your "jewelry collection" of gems, you need this album! "Pay" your respects to this great band!

When you get the time, go read some of my other reviews and say if they were helpful to you or not.

this album totally kicks!... the speed and accuracy will blow you away, the sound is perfect, howling, lightning fast guitar solos and a fantastic vocal! the songs are just great, "night of dreams" is amazing. Just go buy it!!!!

I, like a few others, don't listen to the complete <edit> that America listens to. Even metal considered cool here is so commercialized. In my book, it's all the same as The Backstreet Boys. If you want to hear people with some real technical talent; with the likes of Dream Theater, try these guys. I think metal bands with good keyboards rock. And Labyrinth does. I originally heard Thunder from a free MP3 download and was hooked from there. I recommend this as a starting point for anyone willing to seperate themselves from what all of their friends define as good metal.

This is one of the best albums ever...Never heard anything like that...nothing's has to be said other that this...

But try to listen to Vision Divine,also....