If straight-up, convincing, Symphonic Power Metal is where your heart resides, you'll sure as hell get it here.

An independently released debut from Slovakia finds the rather uninspiringly named Anthology deeply mining the classic Female-Fronted Symphonic Power Metal sound to good effect. Front-lady Lubica Gavalsova (or the easier pronounced Raylyn Shayde) possesses a pleasantly accented, non-classically trained voice reminiscent of Sharon Den Adel or Charlotte Wessels, without quite being in the same league (yet). Her approach is far from a surprise and neither is that of her band-mates. Kamelot, Delain and the early speedtastic tendencies of Helloween are all touching points but Anthology do their peers proud and with a solid sound (mixing/mastering from Roland Grapow (Masterplan) makes sure of that), this is one of those self-released albums that shows just how much can be achieved with determination, skill and a small budget.

Majo Gonda and Miro Grman make a fine twin guitar assault which is more about thick riffs and speed of light fret-runs than it is harmonies, while Martin Solarik infuses the axe-attack with stabs of keyboard colour that ensures the full-on assault retains a brooding atmosphere. Add in a solid and, at times, flashy rhythm section (Peter Pleva on drums and Marek Stech on bass) and Anthology have all the weapons to make 'Fate In Your Hands', 'The Prophecy' and 'Rise Up!' rousing calls to arms.

There's nothing starling about Anthology; they don't pretend to bring a new angle to an already saturated market and yet to dismiss them would do their debut a disservice. 'Prophecy' may not make the most startling of predictions, but as a first glance into what the future may hold for Anthology, it does a fine job of showing a young band with a full understanding of the genre within which they operate. That may not sound like the most ringing endorsement but make no mistake, if straight-up, convincing, Symphonic Power Metal is where your heart resides... you'll sure as hell get it here.

Steven Reid