review by: Roberto Martinelli

This is a very interesting power metal album. I'm not entirely sure yet whether it's a true masterpiece of the genre, but there certainly are many things to take note of. Most importantly, Requiem gets my respect for being a power metal band from Finland who isn't a shameless Stratovarius or even Sonata Arctica clone (and honestly, Sonata Arctica is more or less Stratovarius). So you won't get cookie-cutter songs that feature the same, tired fast bass lines, numbingly simple double bass beats and no real riffs to speak of. So it's very cool that we're dealing with something original that still clearly fits in the Euro power metal genre.

The Arrival may set a new standard in bombast. The album's production sounds like the songs are in a near perpetual state of explosion. Imagine a very toned down version of the shattering, bass-and-treble-dials-to-11 production of Mystic Forest/Eikenskaden, and then add in crunchy guitars that would perhaps sound more at home on a US death metal album, and you're beginning to get the picture. A couple times there is a huge contrast in the music as a deliberately quiet part appears and disappears as deliberately as the over-the-top parts. It may be a little too deliberate.

My eyebrow raised in alarm when I heard the first vocals on the album, sort of growly yet melodic, like the poor man's, male version of the ludicrous but irrepressibly likeable vocals of the woman who sings for White Skull. However, these ill-chosen vocals are only present at the very beginning of the disk. In fact vocalist Jouni Nikula is reasonably talented (although definitely the weakest link in the band), although you can't totally tell until about the fourth song when the production quiets down enough to really hear him.

In terms of playing their instruments, this six-piece band is top notch. Excellent solos and changes rival the best the world has to offer. Composition and arrangement-wise, there's also a good deal to sink one's teeth into. Thinking of the territory that The Arrival covers, I'd say that Requiem is doing what I wish Avantasia were doing, but not making it so cheesy and smarmy and gross that even I couldn't handle it.

Indeed The Arrival is very impressive. It's certainly interesting enough to make someone like me with a large CD collection listen to it a bunch and still make me want to listen to it again to further discover what is going on in the music. The CD art is also excellent and unlike anything else in the genre. It kind of reminds me of the style present in French comic books.

However, Requiem's formula is not perfected just yet. The production is pretty cool, but feels like it could spin out of control at any moment, and nearly does a few times. While the songs are pretty great, I don't think this band has totally found their own voice just yet. Still, The Arrival is pretty highly recommended. It's not as over-the-top musically as Rhapsody (thankfully), but will be a hit with fans of that band, as well as supporters of Lost Horizon and Dark Moor.