The Flashcards: Wardrum – Desolation (2012)

75/100

Genre: progressive/power metal

A year later, Wardrum released a new album, Desolation, featuring a robed figure on the cover just like its predecessor.

The energy channeled here is arguably greater, and I catch a hint of Serenity's Georg Neuhauser in the bridge of "Sign of Treason." Meanwhile, the humming chorus of "Unforgiving" feels almost like an alternative counterpart to "Parental." The progressive elements finally emerge upon reaching "Tide Lakes," which shares a similar tempo and character with "Yesterday" from their debut album, followed immediately by "Urban Storm." This classic proggy style persists through the remainder of the journey, broken up only by the mid-tempo track "Abound in Nothing."

Consequently, I feel much more confident citing Vision Divine for this album, proving that they aren't merely playing straightforward power metal. As for the standout tracks, I highly recommend the sequence following the initial four songs.

Tracklist:

1. Unforgiving

2. Sign of Treason

3. Parental

4. Common Ground

5. Tide Lakes

6. Higher Sky

7. F.A.I.T.H.

8. Urban Storm

9. No Retreat

10. Abound in Nothing

11. Sailing Away

12. Rainy Day

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