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A bit of an underground status kept this one flying off the shelves when it came out, and it remained the highest selling release for the purveyors of all things girly in the metal world, the venerable Underground Symphony, and it's pretty much the epitome of the kind of thing they like to put out, that being flowery Power Metal in the Thy Majestie, Derdian, and of course, Rhapsody vein. If you've ever heard those bands or, say (deep breath) Athena, Highlord, Shining Fury, Orion Riders, Labyrinth, Vision Divine, Etherna, Arthemis, Power Quest, Celesty, Dark Moor, Fairyland, Dragonland, Luca Turilli, and countless, countless others, you will know exactly what to expect here. Need a reminder? Here we go. Just in case you're in doubt as to what category this fits into.

Double kick drums, right? High, crotch-grabbing vocals (complete with pathetic Italian accent), medieval-styled riffs and fast, neo-classical solos, harpsichords, strings, bells, whistles, brass – a lot of pomp, basically – fantasy lyrics, glossy production...do I need to go on? This is Power Metal. It has song titles like "Sir Perceval (Immortal Knight)", "Quest Of Heroes Part I" (not without part II, of course), "Under The Light Of The Moon", and, perhaps best of all, "Love Against The Power Of Evil". It's called A Gate Through The Past, and chances are if you like Power Metal at all you will like this. Or you might just think it's the most derivative thing you've ever heard. It's your call.