Band:	Balance Of Power
Album:	Heathen Machine
Style:	Progressive metal
Release date:	September 22, 2003
A review by:	Malcolm

01. The Rising
02. Heathen Machine
03. I Wish You Were Here
04. Chemical Imbalance
05. No Place Like Home
06. The Eyes Of The World
07. Just Before You Leave
08. Wake Up Call
09. Necessary Evil

And so, it's time for "Balance of Power" to follow up the success they have with the 2000 years "Perfect Balance", and I should start to say that I didn't hope too much on this album after I heard that the Lead singer, Lance King had parted ways with "Balance of Power". And then I'm not a big fan of progressive metal, not at all. But I'm really satisfied with their new singer. John K is really a good singer, imagine if you add some more aggression to our old friend Geoff Tate (Queensryche) and you'll have a clue what you have he sounds like.
And I really like this record, a lot, even if Lance isn't the singer anymore.

"Balance of Power" is from England and they are in the same spirit as their compatriots, "Ten", but the music is different, and now some similarities with "Queensrÿche". But in the whole picture, they have their own sound, much Melodic mixed with some Progressive Metal, a great mix. This is the fifth time we can get acquainted with "Balance of Power" and I really liked their album "Perfect Balance" but I haven't heard anything they have done before that album, unfortunately. So I can't say how much the have develop after each album. But between "Perfect Balance" & "Heathen Machine" it has happen a lot.
The production is a lot better (And it was not bad on "Perfect Balance"), they have been much better on writing lyrics, and for all progg fans, they have become a lot more progressive. And I think that is good for "Balance of Power".

This is a really interesting release, even in my eyes. The songs are really melodic, maybe that's the reason that I like 'em to, I'm not sure, but this is good, really good. But it took me awhile before I got into this record, I missed Lance too much, but after that I just growing more and more stuck into this.

It's an album with nine songs, but all the songs, except the intro, are really long, the shortest is 5.14, but that's because of the progressive metal they play, long and technical Metal.
There is a part where you can see a difference between the last efforts, "Heathen Machine" is a more technical album, that even if "Perfect Balance" was unbelievable technical when it came out on the year 2000.

So, if you are into progressive metal in the spirit of "Queensrÿche" and alike, you should check this album up, it's a real killer.
But all of you that like Melodic Metal should give them a chance to, 'cause it's a really great Melodic album too.

Killing Songs: "I Wish You Were Here", but all of them are outstanding.