The Danish band Wuthering Heights writes really catchy songs. The group's fourth album blends progressive metal with folk and power metal and several other influences. Tommy Hansen (Helloween) produced The Shadow Cabinet. The songs are long and complex with plenty of blazing guitar solos. Wuthering Heights moves easily between genres, but I think they are at their strongest when the folk elements are emphasized, and the weakest when they get into the power metal area.
The band's folk influenced songs are the most unique, and also the most memorable. They have the musicianship to pull off the progressive parts as well. They play power metal just fine, but it's very generic and nothing spectacular.
Vocalist Nils Patrik Johansson has a strong voice with a lot of power and range. He's rock solid, but has a tendency to have an overdramatic delivery that has the danger to go over the top. The positives far outweigh the negatives and this is a CD that will appeal to folk and prog metal fans. There's also a bonus CD that includes the band's performance at the 2006 Progpower Festival.
