Who would have expected that? They made two quiet, beautiful Darkwave records with Neofolk influences - and now OSTARA are going into a new direction. This has of course to do with the members of the band: The new guitarist Stu Mason played in the US Punk band sKamper before, keyboarder Kari Hatakka played in the Finnish Crossover-band Waltari.
The album starts with familiar sounds: calm, spheric keyboard-sounds and soft wave-pop open the song – until suddenly some hard guitar sounds surprise. The well-known voice of Richard Leviathan puts everything in perspective again. Melody and voice really sound like OSTARA - but the refrain is accompanied with rocks-sounds. Hmm. It is the same with the following tracks: the rather melancholic-quiet sounds are supplemented by those guitar- and rock sounds. All this doesn't really sound bad - but I am sure, without those new guitars the songs would have a better sound.
But there are some really beautiful songs: Diva de Sade for example - the song has a great contradiction between whispering voices, really quiet music and the suddenly loud and outbursting refrain. But nevertheless the best songs on this album are those that remind me of the old OSTARA - the last three tracks. Proud Black Templar is an outstanding song: a beautiful a-cappella-track which is sung with different voices. Immortally Wounded and Black Spring could've been on the old OSTARA CD’s.
Maybe one has to get used to it, but I really like the old records of this band more than this. It is really not a bad album - OSTARA have kept their virtues: timeless and great melodies, a lot of melancholy and an expressive voice.