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Certainly a first in my experience, Zenith II Zero, the debut from Cypriot newcomers Prodigal Earth, is the only metal album I've ever encountered from their homeland, and as far as first impressions go, they've done a pretty good job. Not quite on par with some of their more qualified competitors from veteran Europe, Prodigal Earth set the bar pretty high with Zenith II Zero, a rapid attempt at Power Metal greatness that they very nearly attain, but hinder themselves ultimately by lacking that special ingredient, yet hints of it linger in the air.

Unlike, say, Italy or Sweden, we don't have a standard to follow here, and Prodigal Earth's take on the genre is refreshingly askew; the amateur, ropy production aside, this ambitious quartet throw a lot of influences into the pan, with the end result sounding a little something like a salver of Destiny's End, Cage, Adagio, Onward, and early Iced Earth, tossed lightly with pseudo-symphonics, and dressed in jagged, progressive structures. In truth, it is an interesting tonic that is perhaps too chaotically thrown together, marking it a sure fire bête noire for anyone indifferent to the style. Underground connoisseurs will recognize frontman Nicholas Letpos from Euro Metallers Arryan Path and his soaring performance is possibly the best thing about Zenith II Zero, rising above the chopping guitars and sweeping percussion like an eagle taking flight. The band really hit the spot with "Broken World", "Once upon a Crime" and the catchy "Crossroads", but there is a lot of work to be done here, and the sooner Prodigal Earth get to it, the better.