This German band has been around nearly 10 years and Tome II: The Beyond is their second full-length album (as the title implies). They play a folky style of heavy/power metal with lovely strings and acoustic percussion to go along with the traditional guitar/bass/drums. The sound of the album is fine, and the performances are good, especially the vocals, which are a good fit for the music. "Dragon Rising" makes me think of what it might sound like if Bruce Dickinson sang for Elvenking, and the rest of Tome II: The Beyond sounds like Tobias Sammet singing for Blind Guardian. Where this album's appeal drops off is the songwriting, which is capable but nothing more. There are too few memorable riffs or hooks to make much on here rise above the crowd of bands out there, leaving Tome II: The Beyond a competent but unremarkable addition to the vast sea of metal releases.