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In order to provide an historical introspective, Secret Sphere were formed in 1997 by guitarist Aldo Lonobile. Their music has consistently followed the script of speedy Power Metal layered with symphonic elements. Secret Sphere are the owners of a consistently solid catalog dating back to 1999. My first exposure however, came with 2001's superb sophomore effort A Time Never Come.

Sweet Blood Theory is the fifth release for the Italian metallers. It is a concept album based on the short novel "The Vampire" written by Italian-English physician and author John William Polidori in 1814, and is known to be one of the first books to include a vampire character. It is their first release under the Dockyard 1 label after a successful run while under contract with Nuclear Blast.

True, Secret Sphere do not plow any new ground with Sweet Blood Theory, but the skill of the songwriting and musicianship are at such a high level that it does not seem to matter. After multiple listens the perfectly crafted melodies and beautiful sweeping choruses will be running through your head for days. One of the main strengths that Secret Sphere possess is that they are no one trick pony. Sure there is plenty of double bass thumping, which you would expect from any Power Metal offering; however, the perfect blend of mid-pace tempos allows for each song to stand independently on its own, which prevents the listener's mind from wavering. In other words predictability, which is the downfall for many, is not present here. Another strength comes from their ability to write romantic, well crafted ballads which do not destroy the flow or the chemistry of the album, and in this case with "The Butterfly Dance" that point is abundantly true.

In order to provide a personal touch to these reviews I always like to mention the musicians by name. Vocalist Ramon Messina, who some may also know from the equally gifted Power Metal outfit Alkemyst provides his usual smooth and melodic vocal delivery; guitarists Aldo Lonobile and Paco Gianotti offer up aggressive, chunky riffs, while Lonobile's blistering solos will floor you. The keyboard duties, handled by the talented Antonio Agate, provide a nice balance to the aggressive riffing, which allow the emotional symphonic elements to really stand out. New drummer Frederico Pennazatto and bassist Andy Burrato provide a fist-pumping rhythm section.

Song-wise the entire CD is awesome, however, songs like "From A Demon To A Nightmare", "The Shadows Of The Room Of Pleasure", "Welcome To The Circus", "Sweet Blood Theory" and "Feed My Fire" are absolute stand-outs. For those who were already fans of the band, this is a mandatory purchase. For newcomers you definitely want to check this out, because what Secret Sphere offer up with Sweet Blood Theory is simply their best album to date, and one of the top Power Metal releases of 2008. Highly Recommended!