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The problem with a lot of symphonic bands is that to do it right you can’t just use keys to add bombast and expect it to fly — you have to actually have songwriting chops to match your ambitions, and most bands of this kind fall short in that department. Manora, a new band from the Netherlands, do not have this problem. They have a big, dramatic sound and a female vocalist, and they also have melodies to spare, and they make their music both epic and catchy.

It’s really just a pleasure to listen to a band that has their shit together like this, and I doubt these guys will stay unsigned for very long with quality output like this. The production is pro, the playing is tight, and singer Mirte van der Ham has a powerful midrange voice and a lot of charisma. The band has catchy riffs and vocal melodies to spare, and this manages to sound classic without being too derivative. If you miss the old days of Nightwish and Within Temptation, then this is an album you will like a lot.