Band:	Axenstar
Album:	The Inquisition
Style:	Power metal
Release date:	May 2005

01. The Fallen One
02. Under Black Wings
03. Salvation
04. Inside Your Mind
05. Daydreamer
06. Drifting
07. The Burning
08. Run Or Hide
09. The Sands Of Time
10. Imaginary World [Japanese bonus]

Sweden's Axenstar released their second (and best) release "Far From Heaven" in 2003 and in addition they became rather famous, in both good and bad ways.
People called them Sonata/Nightwish rip-offs and some called them great.
I was one of the last ones, I liked their album and prised it in my review, so I was a bit lively when I heard that they were recording a successor and couldn't wait until I got my hands on it.

The time went by and the album finally arrived in my mailbox, and I felt like a little kid on Christmas again, "the new Axenstar, finally".
I put the album, "The Inquisition", in my player and I was listening to the new Axenstar, at last.
My reactions were a bit divided, because one thing you learn by being a reviewer is that you should never have any kinds of expectations on an album, not even with one of your favourite bands.
But how easy is that? My expectations for "The Inquisition" was that it should be a natural step after "Far From Heaven", filled with maybe even grater choruses, melodies and harmonies.

But as you might suspect, "The Inquisition" is not "Far From Heaven Pt.2", it's actually pretty far from.
Axenstar has evolved, and after the first spins I don't even know if I like it or not.
"With time it grows", a well-known expression we reviewers are using. It might seem old and boring, but it's true. In time even this album has grown for me, but even if it's not getting close to "Far From Heaven" I've to say that I like it and I'm still happy to have it in my possession.

"The Inquisition" starts with "The Fallen One", a pretty "typical" Axenstar song, and maybe the one that's getting closest to the "style" on "Far From Heaven", this song was easy to get in to, since it's what Axenstar is all about, great opener.
Then we have "Under Black Wings", that's a heavier song, but still with much Axenstar in it, especially the chorus.
"Daydreamer", the best song of the album and probably the only (together with "The Fallen One") one that could have been on "Far From Heaven" without getting to far from the sound. This song really grew into me and are my favourite today, but it's no "Blind Leading the Blind", that's for sure.
The 7-minutes epos "The Burning" is alike to the song "Perpetual Twilight" much because both of them are longer song. "The Burning" is a good tune as well, and are one of my top 4 songs for sure.

In general I'm happy that Axenstar is back, even if I know they can do better. "The Inquisition" is not a bad album in general, but if you compare it to the exceptional "Far From Heaven" it feels way to short, uninspired and a bit sloppy.
The material could have been much better and Winterwild sounds a bit bored and pushed back while singing.
Other than that, this album is worth buying, it's Axenstar for god's sake. But I hope they'll give the material a real look-over until the next album, I want more catchy and great tunes like "Blind Leading the Blind" next time guys.

Check Out: "Daydreamer", "The Fallen One", Under Black Wings" & "The Burning".