A seriously good piece of work.

It's been a couple of years since Leeds quartet Jupiter Falls impressed with their début 'Revolution'. A strong album full of Rocking tunes, it marked out a new band worthy of keeping an eye on and I was glad to finally see the follow-up appear in my inbox. Spying a run time of nearly an hour, including a nine minute track, it was immediately apparent that this was a band who might have moved on from simpler Rock fayre.

The album kicks off with a bit of huge riffage in the shape of 'Welcome To My World' which showcases James Hart's intense vocals nicely. It all sounds a bit epic, and whilst not the freest flowing track you'll hear, it really stirs the blood. The band revert to much more standard Rock tricks with 'Nothing To Me', a track that could have been bland in less experienced hands, with 'Illusion' completing a very satisfactory opening trilogy. Jupiter Falls once again show their new found depth with 'Call Me', an epic sounding, mostly acoustic track with a big sound that, whilst not immediately catchy, is solid enough to intrigue the listener.

'This Sickened World' will remind many listeners of Metallica as Hart growls over big ass riffs and pounding drums, while 'Follow You' mixes big riffs and acoustic interludes very nicely indeed. The "big" offering is the title track which closes the album and lasts nearly ten minutes. It's a great song and, like the rest of the album, is unexpectedly deep and complex, showing a real maturity to the band.

A definite leap in experience from the last album, 'Faces In The Sand Part 1' is a seriously good piece of work. Taken as a whole, it contains a great variety of style, definitely showing that the band don't want to be just another Metal band. There are simple stomping tracks for those who want them, but also selections that take a few more listens to fully appreciate, along with a title track that will reward repeated listens. This may be a bit of a gamble for the group, but I'd rather have a band that draws faces in the sand than one who bury their heads in it.

Alan Holloway