A classy, hard hitting and complex set of songs that any aficionado of Prog Metal could want or ask for.

When I read that Sweden's Harmony had a new album out I was very pleased, pleased because I had really enjoyed their first two albums of highly Melodic Progressive Metal and in their (at the time) lead singer Henrik Bath (Darkwater), I had always felt that they had a star. So when I read that Bath had departed the band, I became worried as to the chances of Harmony actually being able to replace such a strong lead vocalist. However once I got to hear the new album 'Theatre Of Redemption', with the band's new front-man Daniel Heiman (Heed, Lost Horizon), all of my worries happily vanished. This was mainly due to the fact that Heiman has slotted into his role with ease and the band have again come up with another classy, hard hitting and complex set of songs that any aficionado of Prog Metal could want or ask for.

Also evident as you listen to this new release is that the youthful exuberance of the earlier albums has been replaced by a more mature and experienced musical style, which translates itself wonderfully into the songs that make up '...Redemption'. I'd urge you to watch out for the beautifully paced and performed 'Inhale' where Heiman makes his huge vocal presence felt (which only makes the rest of the band play even better to try to catch him up) and the Eastern flavoured 'Son Of The Morning' where the guitars and keyboards of Markus Sigfridsson and John Svensson join once again with the soaring voice of Heiman to help create an overblown epic Progressive Metal track, with twisting rhythmic patterns that keep you engaged as the song plays.

Then try 'What If' which is less Progressive and more Hard Rock in style than the other songs found on the album; it's still Harmony but Harmony trying a slightly different musical tack. Then you have the stunning ballad 'You Are', a piano lament (accompanied by Heiman's plaintive vocal) ushers in the song, then the other band members join in and this wonderful piece about love and loss, begins to weave its musical spell over you. Finally sit back and enjoy title track 'Theatre Of Redemption' which is another sweeping epic, one that has slow burning verses that build and build until they crash upon the shores of the more up-tempo choruses, choruses which then very effectively worm their way in to your subconscious; all the while Sigfridsson solos and riffs like a man possessed.

It has been way, way too long since Harmony made music together and I just hope that on the strength of 'Theatre Of Redemption' we don't have to wait four years and more for another one.

Ian Johnson