UMUR "The Empires Of The Worlds" is the 2nd full-length studio album by UK progressive power/thrash metal act Biomechanical. The album was released through Earache Records/Elitist Records in June 2005. "Eight Moons (2002)" was a very promising debut album but it was originally released by a small independent label, and probably didn´t receive as much attention as it deserved. The label shift to Earache Records/Elitist Records took "The Empires Of The Worlds" to a wider audience though and Biomechanical received a lot of praise and attention from fans and critics alike.

Stylistically the music on "The Empires Of The Worlds" continues, but also develops, on the music style initiated on "Eight Moons (2002)". It´s quite an original mix of groove thrash, progressive metal, and power metal. Sort of like listening to a combination of Pantera, Judas Priest and Pain of Salvation. Lead vocalist John K. is incredibly skilled. He has a strong voice and a powerful delivery no matter which vocal style he performs. Raw aggressive vocals, higher pitched screaming vocals, or more progressive inclined clean vocals, he can do them all with great conviction.

Compared to "Eight Moons (2002)", Biomechanical have opted to include more keyboards on "The Empires Of The Worlds", which occasionally provide the music with a symphonic touch. The riffs are predominantly thrashy, chugging and groovy, but Chris Webb and Jamie Hunt have more up their sleeves than just that, and they play melodic themes, atmospheric parts, and some great solos too. The rhythm section of bassist Jon Collins and drummer Matt C. are a very tight playing unit too and overall Biomechanical are a very well playing (and singing) band.

The material on the 14 track, 54:03 minutes long album are generally very well written, powerful and effective. But it´s also varied which means that the listener is entertained throughout the album. There is not a single dull moment on "The Empires Of The Worlds" and you´ll be exposed to one jaw dropping moment after another and generally experience a band at the peak of their creativity. To top it all off the album features a professsional, powerful and detailed sound production which brings out the best in the music.

To my ears "Eight Moons (2002)" is a pretty special album, and I´m not sure I think "The Empires Of The Worlds" beats it in my personal opinion, but objectively seen/heard "The Empires Of The Worlds" is probably the stronger album of the two and it´s certainly an album that has taken the band´s sound and developed it into something even more adventurous and challenging. A 4 star (80%) rating is fully deserved.