For the Glory of Nothing

Blind Guardian's "Nightfall," Iced Earth's "Something Wicked," Nightwish's "Oceanborn," and King Diamond's comeback, "Voodoo." All of albums were gems of 1998. All of these albums were outclassed and outmatched by Tarot's "For the Glory of Nothing." Since the release of their "Spell of Iron" debut in 1984, Tarot has remained metal's best secret.

"For the Glory of Nothing" is the band's fifth album, and most will recrognize singer/songwriter/bassist/familyman/god Marco Hietala from the latest Nightwish album. While "Century Child" only hints at Marco's vocal prowess, tracks like "Crawlspace," "Warhead" and (especially) "Dark Star Burning" show what the singer is capable of, and what other singers aren't.

"For The Glory of Nothing," has a much better, much clearer production than the band's previous album, 1995's "Stigmata." The well-played keyboards do not distract from the disc's tradional, heavy feel. The riffs and solos are still here, and guitars drive the bulk of this album. Timo Cantsingpelto adds backing vocals to "Beyond Troy," and I actually don't mind his performance. He was probably saving his truly horrendous vocals for the next Stratovarius album: the truly horrendous "Infinite."

"For the Glory of Nothing" closes with its mellowist and most atmospheric track: "Ice." Hietala's emotional vocals are anything but frozen, and in the verses, they're backed by an industrialized hum. I love his delivery of "losing sight," and how the high notes melt into the "ooo-ooo-ooo's" at the end of the song. Timeless.


Here are your choices:

1) Buy, steal, do whatever you can to get this album.

2) Don't buy this album, but remember to e-mail me your name. I don't want to forget anyone on my all-inclusive list of "Unforgivable Posers."