• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Apart from Dark Crystal, Celtic Legacy are the only full-blown Power Metal outfit I've ever encountered from Ireland, and despite their obvious ambitions to the latter, their third attempt at it leaves a lot to be desired.

Whilst its roots are based in the galloping metal law of the past, the production on Guardian of Eternity is so thin and dull that the whole thing sounds far too timid, often baring little resemblance to anything other than a watered down Mob Rules. The album does have its charms however; the boisterous opener "Celtica" has made good use of a melody the band seem to have purloined from Kamelot's "Wings of Despair", and sticks to a folky formula akin to some of Iron Maiden's more ambitious work. The following track "Afterworld" has a Human Fortress feel, being more focused and using an effective harmony lead as its base. Celtic Legacy are certainly on the right track, but I get the impression they are trying too hard to stick to the generic guidelines; there is no evidence of expansion on the ideas or formulas of those they imitate, no original boost of energy, or even any attempt to write a challenging song, just a bunch of rehashes and trite replication of every Heavy/Power metal track there ever was. Vocalist Ciaran Ennis has a shaky talent at best, even putting some of the Italian school to shame, but the twin-guitar work is solid, and is a healthy foundation for the band to build upon.

In all honesty, I'd like to see Celtic Legacy produce something a bit more palatable, because I know with a little tweaking, they certainly could. But until then, Guardian of Eternity might as well join the archives as yet another tome of plagiaristic Power Metal that we're all so aware of.