arcane-beautiful Being fairly impressed by their new album (Snowfall On Judgement Day), I decided to get another album, you know to even things out.

This is another great album and an amazing achievment from the band. If I was to pick a favourite, I would pick the new one, because it stands out just a little more.

This album is alot more prog & little bit less metal than Snowfall as well, which made the album alot more interesting.

1. The Suffocating Silence - What an amazing intro. This song builds up to be a very kick ass song. The instrumental section is very Dream Theater. Very cool chorus. The ending is also very Dream Theater.

2. Bleed My Dry - This song is quite kick ass. The bass solo is quite cool & funky. Amazing vocals from Ray.

3. The Death Of Faith & Reason - Wow, what a kick in the face. Mammothly heavy. Very Nevermore. The chorus is very sinister. The lyrics basically say that all athiests and fundamentalist views are over dramatic. A more Universal sense (I agreed completely with this song, being a Universal Esoteric).

4. Memory - The intro is very Pain Of Salvation meets Symphony X. I love the chorus. It is quite beautifull. I love the chorus. This is the most interesting song on the album, and Rays vocals are amazing.

5. The Origins Of Ruin - The intro is very Final Fantasy. Amazing song. Very simple but effective. I love the almost electronica backbeat of the song and how it fades out.

6. Man Of Glass - I love the key change in the verses. Ray shows off some amazing vocals in the chorus. The first guitar solo is realy beautifully played. The key change in the chorus is very kick ass.

7. Blind My Eyes - I like the ambient almost soundtrack like intro. Again very like Final Fantasy. Phenomonal chorus. One of Rays best ever vocal performances. The guitar solos are very Iron Maiden.

8. Used To Be - The intro is very technical. Another great chorus. The instrumental section is very melodius with some great guitar work.

9. Fall On You - The introis very Queensyrche. Very cheesy chorus, but very effective. Really kick ass instrumental section. The ending is quite beautiful.

CONCLUSION: Another amazing progressive metal album, basically.

Windhawk Redemption is a US-based prog band, and "The Origins of Ruin" is their third release.

Musically they reside somewhere between Symphony X and Dream Theater in style; with the grittier guitar sound of the former and the big epic soundscapes of the latter.

But the devil is in the details though; Redemption has a much larger variation in guitar style than Symphony X, and the big epic Dream Theater feel is not ever-present - but used when needed. The synths are used effectively to enhance the moods in mellow as well as grandiose moods. Vocals are quite original for the genre as being melodic and relaxed - no screaming sirens here - and the drum patterns are good and more detailed than usual in this genre.

Good songs as well, mostly. Worthwhile checking out for prog metal fans.