Hello, i feel this album too crude. I dont see balance between Metal music and Classical (or instrumentated) music. I can remark for good this track "Herr Mannelig". =)

All elements of the album are flawless however, the combination isn't easy to understand in one sitting, will probably have to go back to this one again.

Ok, i changed my mind...this is even slightly better than previous album

Asis vocals bring down what would be an almost perfect album in my opinion. This type of album would be much better with all clean vocals. I think growls would only fit if they were representing a villain or demonic character.

Written by [user id=147367] on 31.01.2014 at 19:39

I really love this album, but if it didn't have growls, it could be my favourite album ever.

Growling makes the essence of this kind of their music Symphonic Gothic Metal, you can't deny. Maybe you are fond of Epic Symphonic Music only?

The ensemble were pretty good, but the growling frontman did absolutely nothing for me.

This is a masterpiece, and it is clearly their best album. Very beautiful music, throughout.
While I have absolutely no problems with the growls here, I can see why people do.
And I can imagine that we might have an equally brilliant album with exclusively clean vocals.
But hell, the growls belong to Haggard's music just as each of their countless instruments.
Highlights: Almost everything, but certainly All inzio e la morte and the titletrack.

10's are for the Gods and this is a divine album!

I've tried this album a few times now and I definitely can't get on-board with calling it a masterpiece.

6 or 7 is too low, but I just can't bring myself to give it a 9 or 10.

That's the easiest 10 I've ever given, without thinking twice about it.

This album and Awakening the century are the best symphonic metal has to offer.

I have a particular love for Haggard as each time I put one of their album it always triggers a lot of attention from my 1 year old son: crazy how this music catches him.

Not a huge fan, but I do find a lot of this musicianship very interesting: the huge orchestra of different instruments, the alternating somber choir and growling vocals, the various languages... it all contributes to a very epic experience!

To have an album devoted to Galileo's discovery is a unique concept, but I dont find it as compelling as fantasy-themed concept albums. The growling doesn't necessarily turn me off, though I do prefer the beautiful female vocals!

My favorite songs here: Herr Mannelig, Per Aspera Ad Astra

This one is a prime example of extreme harmonisation between a symphony orchestra and a metal band. Unlike some metal bands who adopted symphonic elements as senseless background, Haggard have done an impeccable job to display the musical heterogeneity. Like Galileo Galilei said "Eppur Si Muove", this album sounds like trying hard to prove that the symphonic elements and metal are not disparate from each other as pessimists keep insisting that they are not harmonious.

For me this is how symphonic metal has to be. One of the best albums of all time. An album that can change your life. Give it a listen without second thought.