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Jackal was a Heavy/Power Metal band from Denmark that released three albums in the 90's and another one in 2009, this being their third and last one before entering a hiatus. They reached a considerable success with their first album, but label and personal issues put the band back in anonymity. Performing a pretty straightforward Heavy Metal with glimpses of Power Metal here and there, Jackal managed to compile a good song selection in A Safe Look in Mirrors. What we have here is a talented band at their peak, with vocalist Brian Rich stealing the show with his mix of high-pitched and gruffy voice, and competent riffing and songwriting. It's a shame that Rich committed suicide in 2013, because he was a great singer and a talented artist. Fast passages are represented in songs like the title track, while the heavier approach rests in "When the Light is Comin' Down" and "What's it Gonna Be". It's safe to say, though, that the band has a more melodic influence, illustrated well by the choruses throughout the album, especially in songs like "Just a Little Closer", "Dream On" and "The Lonely".

This was a favorite of mine back in my teenage days, and listening to it all these years later makes it even more enjoyable. It has high quality production if we take into consideration the time of release and the fact that this was a band that never really had a prominent role in the industry, resting in the European underground scene after the label issues mentioned above. Maiden fans, as well as Traditional Metal fans in general with a taste for diversity in their music should dig this.