Band:	Eternal Reign
Album:	Forbidden Path
Style:	Power metal
Release date:	February 21, 2005
A review by:	Malcolm

01. Gate To Infinity
02. Light The Light
03. Into My Own Hands
04. The Final Call
05. Edge Of The World
06. Les Rèves en Plastique
07. Forbidden Path
08. Losing Ground
09. Set The Sails [ecrecy cover]
10. Nightstalker
11. The Seconds In [Breaker cover]

Germany, the home of Power Metal, Metal festivals and Beer, what other country could ever conquer with Germany on that? (Except Finland and Power then, but still)
And from the same country this, still quite young, Power Metal band hails, Eternal Reign. Formed in 1997 in Bremen, Germany, with one demo, one EP and one full-length album in the luggage, they now returns with their second album "Forbidden Path", that's supposed to help them to find the path to success.
But is the album good enough for that? Well, I don't think to, I'm afraid.
Sure, the album has some really good sides, but it's way to unoriginal and simple(!) for that.

"Forbidden Path" is an album filled with really good riffs and good tunes, but there are things missing to make it a real hit.
Mainly, they'll need a couple of really outstanding songs that can lift the album up above the average, above all the other bands, and unfortunately this album doesn't have that.

But if we shall look throughout a more positive view, I think this album has some small parts that might, at least, be worth checking, if you're into Heavy/Power Metal.
First of all, there are some songs that are good (not outstanding), that's taking it album above many other bands. Among them I think "Edge of the World" and "Into My Own Hands" is the best ones. Both are a good mix between heavy and catchy music with much riffing and a good singer.
The singer yes, Dirk Stühmer is a very good singer indeed, the only thing he's falling on is that he's missing this unique touch, that makes singer so unique.

And the band in general too, they are still young and can improve for the music to future success, and I think they have what it takes to really do that.
But for now, I can only say that "Forbidden Path" is a decent Power Metal album that's mostly for die-hard fans of the genre, and it won't change the bands status in any other way than that they have now 2 albums released.

Eternal Reign is a band for the future, and in that cause "Forbidden Path" is a step on the way, if they can evolve this music in the right way, I'm sure we'll hear much greatness from the band in the future, you can hear that in the songs I'll recommend for you soon.
So if you're into German Power Metal, this might please you, but if you're just a Power Metal listener, I recommend you to listen to a track or two before buying.

Check Out: "Edge of the World", "Into My Own Hands", "Set the Sails" and the cover "Ten Seconds in".