Mirror Of Madness
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With so many metal bands out there, it's rather difficult to come up with a unique sound and style. A good alternative to this is to take a little from various bands and make something new out of it. Finland's Norther has done this on Mirror Of Madness.

Norther is essentially a mix of well-played melodic power/speed metal with black metal vocals. "Hey Rumple, that sounds kinda like Children Of Bodom"...well, yes it does. But there are a few differences which make Mirror Of Madness a worthwhile addition to your collection. Taking the increasingly popular CoB sound, Norther adds more of a Swedish death metal feel and utilizes more keyboards, including some incredible guitar-like solos. The vocals are standard black/death screams, but there is always a sense of implied melody. I hear bits of In Flames and Soilwork in the overall sound as well.

Special mention should be made of the guitar performances of Kristian Ranta and Petri Lindroos. Excellent rhythms and solos from both players display a solid sense of song structure and effortless technique not too common for men their age (all of the members are in their early 20's). There is a strong neo-classical influence in the solos reminiscent of many power metal guitarists.

While not very original, Norther has created a winner with Mirror Of Madness. Combining strong songwriting with solid musicianship and a clean, clear production, I think they can be a worthwhile addition to anyone's metal collection. Keep your eyes (and ears) open for these guys. If they continue to evolve and progress, they will be quite a force to be reckoned with in the future.