voila_la_scorie Viathyn's debut album, when pitted against the sophomore release, seems in lack when you read the reviews of the newer album. "The production on 'Cynosure' is an improvement over 'The Peregrine Way'." "The music of 'Cynosure' sounds less derivative." "Tomislav Crnkovic vocals have improved."

"The Peregrine Way" still earned plenty of favourable remarks out there in the Internet land of album reviewers and critics, but the general opinion seems to be that "Cynosure" was an improvement all round. But I have found that I really like this album and that some of the reasons why I like it are less prevalent or even absent on the second album.

First of all, regarding the production and the quality of the vocals, if Cynosure's were really good then The Peregrine Way's are rather good. My ears don't discern a large difference. However, one of the characteristics of Viathyn's music is the use of folk melodies in a metal band. That crops up often enough on the second album, but I hear it much more on the debut. Many of the melodies played on lead guitar could be Irish jigs and reels transposed for electric guitar. And while there was a noticeable symphonic element to many songs on 'Cynosure', that seems less pronounced here on the debut and instead we can hear a woodwind instrument once or twice, a sole violin here and there, and an accompanying female vocalist on three or four tracks.

Another point is that this here debut album has more clean guitar moments than the sophomore album, which I think adds more majesty to the album atmosphere. The second album as I described it seems mostly to be a soundtrack to rising into the storm and fiercely and confidently believing that any obstacle will be overcome. "The Peregrine Way" for it's gentler and sometimes a little melancholic moments gives us a moment to reflect on rural settings in fantasy tales.

So while "Cynosure" sounds better and is overall an improvement over "The Peregrine Way", the debut has some standout features that are reduced or eliminated from the band's approach to their second album.

My point being this: though the majority see "Cynosure" as the stronger album, I can find things to love about "The Peregrine Way" that are stronger on this album. Therefore, I award both albums with the same score of four stars!