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This is the second CD from Irish band Celtic Legacy (finally, a 'celtic' band that is actually from Ireland.) I had heard good things about these guys, but was totally unprepared for how blown away I am by this album. "Resurrection" is, quite simply, a beautiful album by a band that remains unsigned through cruel mischance or activity by the Devil. I can account for it in no other way.

CL are a very traditional band, in every sense. Their music straddles the sound of vintage Iron Maiden and classic hard rock like Styx or Deep Purple, the vocals even have that 80's echoey sound to them, so the whole package sounds like it could have been recorded 20 years ago. The quality on the album of the songs is a bit uneven, but only because some of the tunes here are pretty good, and some are unbefuckinglievably good. "Live By The Sword" – the first proper song after the intro track – is a pure heavy metal classic with great riffs, killer vocals, and an awesome chorus. About as perfect as old-fashioned metal gets. Other quality tunes include "Guardian Angel", "Shine", "Always The Hero", and the dark, heavy "Emania" (which rips off Root's riff from "My Dark Desires", but I will give them the benefit and assume they just never heard it.) I would say the worst song here is probably "Timeless", which has a beautiful verse and great riffs, but a terrible chorus. "Sloidephuch Doin" is an instrumental that is not actually gaelic, but a phonetic rendering of "Slow The Fuck Down" in a thick Irish accent. "When A Stranger Comes" is a lovely ballad that closes out the album.

Everything on this album, cool as it is, must bow down before the title track. A ten-minute tour-de-force of power, passion, and musical showmanship. Starting slow, building to an epic, pounding thunder before winding down into a stellar close. "Resurrection" is just one of the best songs ever written, anywhere, by anybody. If Celtic Legacy never write or record another note, this song will assure them immortality. On an album of good tunes, "Resurrection" is perfect.

This is just a great album. Celtic Legacy have created a work that should be on the top ten list for 2003, and it is a shame so few people will actually get to hear it. If you can find this album, grab it with no questions asked. Even if the rest of the album were not so strong, the title track alone would be worth the money and the trouble. Highly Recommended.