Band:	Radiance
Album:	...And The Night Comes Down
Style:	Progressive heavy metal
Release date:	May 2009

01. Lady Blackness
02. Moon On The Mirror
03. Inferno
04. Fire
05. Inspiration
06. Warm Zephyr

?And The Night Comes Down is the first, self-released, output by this Italian band. Although they're female-fronted, and they actually started as an all-female band, don't be fooled. This is pure heavy metal the old school way!

Despite using a drum machine, the rhythmic section is tough and tight and the guitar duties are handled by two very pretty ladies (of which one has left the band by now as far as I know). Vocal-wise I am sometimes reminded of (the overrated) miss Tarja Turunen, miss Marcella Giuffrè doesn't go operatic all the time though and often uses a rockier singing voice instead, frequently switching between the styles.

Although most of the riffs don't sound very new and original, they do sound like old school heavy metal that got a new and fresh paintjob. The songs as such sound very harmonious as well and although no track deserves to be labelled as a hit yet, this CD definitely has its good moments. The best thing about it though, is that like I already mentioned, this is real heavy metal. There are no symphonic choirs, no keyboards, there's no gothic, no power metal. Not that I mind the usual female-fronted stuff so extremely much, but let's face it, nowadays it seems like every single girl who likes both singing and metal is trying to make exactly the same band. Thumbs up to Radiance for not doing that.

As a final word, let me tell you that this isn't the stuff dreams are made of yet. The songs do have a certain amount of appeal and the musicians are all pretty good at what they're doing. The band definitely has potential and ?And The Night Comes Down can surely be considered as above average. But if they really want to leave a lasting impression they still have to work on their songwriting a bit more.