Labyrinth’s most well known release “Return to Heaven Denied” was released back in 1998, and the band has come up with a new release in the self-titled CD “Labyrinth”. Gone is the usage of pseudonyms and the guys are now using their proper names.
From the first track “The Prophet” the sound is loud, clean, and extremely crisp. Vocalist Roberto Tiranti shines with his vocal delivery especially on the more power metal laden tracks such as “Synthetic Paradise”, “Terzinato” and “Slave To The Night”. Several songs sound a bit out of place from the rest of the disc. “Just Soldier (Stay Down)” borders on being a thrash song and Tiranti seems to strain to keep up with the pace. “Neverending Rest” is probably a bit too mellow in terms of the overall CD.
One other minor criticism would be the at times use of too much keyboard vs. not enough guitar. Perhaps this is where the border of progressive and power meet. However when guitarist Andrea Cantarelli shreds, it is among some of the more impressive parts of the disc.
Perhaps the departure of Olaf Thörsen, who did the bulk of the writing in the past, caused the band to compose such a non-cohesive disc. Labyrinth’s strength lines within the power metal genre as the songs of this nature of “Labyrinth” dictate.