Fields of Salvation

Up to this point, Burden of Grief has been good, but not exceptional. Here, they've come into their own and really show what they're made of.

This release is much more mature than their previous two attempts. They've developed a sound that most closely resembles good In Flames. Now I'm not saying this sounds like In Flames, it's just that's the closest example I can give. They have their own sound, and you can tell from listening to the two side by side that they're totally different bands. For example, Grief of Emerald is a bit faster, has totally different vocals, and different and in my opinion better leads. Grief of Emerald is also quite dark in comparison to In Flames.

What improved the most with this release though was the vocals. Before they were kind of weak and forced, but now they're natural and strong. The musicianship, as was before, is spot on, however the quality of the musical composition is much improved. Better and more interesting leads dot this album, with better rhythms. The drum work even saw a significant improvement. I love the high-hat trills he throws in there, along with how tastefully and tactfully he employs the use of his ride cymbal. They just got better all around in comparison to their previous works.

If you get any album from Grief of Emerald, this is the one to get.