The end result puts Fallen Sanctuary a notch above their debut. Serenity does a nice job alternating bombastic power metal with more subtle and subdued progressive metal. The songs are painstakingly arranged with layers of keyboards, orchestral parts, and of course plenty of guitars.
The strongest songs are the uptempo ones, which have soaring melodies and catchy hooks along with a sufficient among of crunch. The slower songs are also good, with more textures and depth on display.
Georg Neuhauser is a strong vocalist. He has plenty of power and range, but also the ability to dial it back and sing with more emotion and control on the slower and mellower tracks. There's also a guest appearance on one song from Elis' Sandra Schleret, which adds a different sound to the CD. You'll also hear some growling on the CD's final track.
Serenity has really stepped up on Fallen Sanctuary. The well-written songs, interesting arrangements and catchy hooks will really appeal to power and progressive metal fans.
(released September 9, 2008 on Napalm Records)
