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Isn't it fun rifling through your cd collection? More often than not, you find some lost gem or something that you've grown to appreciate more over the years. Sometimes you ask yourself why you'd ever buy such tripe. And then there are those releases that fall in between, like Element V, the debut from Australia's Voyager. Things get off to a good start with the opening instrumental, which, led by vocalist/keyboarder Daniel Estrin, has a strong feeling of migration from one land to another. Immediately, the atmosphere is established, along with a core sound that borrows heavily from Pagan's Mind and Heavenly, albeit with a reliance on keyboards to create the melodies. The guitars are mainly in duel-harmony mode, and although this is progressive at times, there can be an old school feel to tracks like "The Ancient Labyrinth" and "The Eleventh Meridian".

As the production is soft but serviceable, the only downside to Element V stems from Estrin's vocals. They lack conviction, power, and panache, though they are not hideously out of key; he goes for a pondering, almost spiritual sound that is unusual, but not altogether pleasing. Musically, Voyager have some great ideas, and they are implemented well. Still, this is one album that should stay hidden if you happen to have purchased it in the past.