StoneLake - Shades Of Eternity

\r\nOne more album from the swedish veterans, StoneLake which is characterised by a great level of professionalism and creativity. Their 20 years experience is a fact well known and proven in their new album as Peter Grundstrom and Jan Akesson show us, unlike other bands of this genre, how someone can make heavy metal music in the year 2009 without repeating any of the staff we already know. Another fact that shows us their consistency is that since 2006 they release one album per year. This isn’t something any band can do. \r\n

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\r\nStoneLake’s music combines the heavy and raging mood of Judas Priest and the fantasy and creativity of Dream Theater and Symphony X. Heavy riffing surrounded by keyboards and high vocal lines that only the best in this genre can cope with. The three dynamites of this album, Shade Of Eternity, End Of The World and Rescue You proove StoneLake’s talent and give away a dramatic mood to any listener of this album. Yet, they have their weak moments as a second ballad wasn’t at all necessary for the album (Treat Me Right) and Fly Out could just be a bonus track as it doesn’t add any points to the album’s final score. Another fact is that the band is consisted only of two members and all other work is done by add-on musicians or exclusively by Grundston and Akesson. It is a miracle to me that only two people have managed to cope with so much work. Two thumbs up to them.\r\n

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\r\nOn the whole, a well-respected album and band which, strangely somehow, hasn’t yet been acknowledged in broader heavy metal audiences outside Sweden (they’ve participated in Sweden Rock Festival in the past). I think it’s time for them to take it to the next level.    \r\n

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