Band:	Darkwell
Album:	Metat[r]on
Style:	Gothic metal
Release date:	November 29, 2004
A review by:	Undercraft

01. Fate Prisoner
02. Strange
03. Metatron
04. Crown Of Thorn
05. The Machine
06. Hope Unborn
07. Nothingness
08. Far Cry
09. Last Glance
10. Don't You Forget About Me [Simple Minds cover] [Limited edtion bonus]

Darkwell is a band that despite the earned popularity, never was considered in my books as a great Gothic Metal band, although I like very much the genre.
Despite they've been around since 1999 this is their second full length after a debut and a Ep, also this album marks the debut of new vocalist Stephanie Luzie taking over Alexandra Pittracher.

First thing first, I always have complained about the lack of imagination and creativity of this band with their cover arts, they were plain ugly, now they finally realized that and we have a gorgeous cover art, worthy of a established act such as this.

I'm afraid I cannot say the same about the music, because I didn't find it interesting at all, new vocalist Stephanie Luzie does a good job, but I find her voice a little bit powerless against the music of Darkwell. Meanwhile, the band plays relying in heavy catchy guitar riffs and some keyboard work, most songs are mid-paced, I didn't found any song with a fast furious pace like "The Crucible" although "Far Cry" deceived me for a while.

While the album is listenable, doesn't draw the attention it should have, simply because songs are too much alike and are few songs that really stand out. To me, the best song of the album is the title track "Metatron" , the haunting piano at the beginning and the catchy rhythms makes of this a worthy song.

At the end almost no composition touches me, the album becomes boring after a few listens and who knows maybe after a couple more will become unbearable. A mediocre album from a good band, no big surprises, not much creativity, is a shame to waste such beautiful cover art in an album like this.