Currently I own only this one album by Twilight Guardians, and I fell into it by catching their remake of Madonna's 'La Isla Bonita' remake on YouTube, and I had to own this album and it was one of the best purchases I have made as a heavy metal fan, one of my top albums so far.
I'm already a huge fan of power metal and various other genres of metal and while Twilight Guardians don't break any amazing ground they still have made a killer record using the formula they're comfortable with. Rather than take the typical road other bands use with Fantasy/Middle Earth/Middle Ages type atmosphere, these guys are more akin to bands like Kamelot, newer Dragonland, and Sonata Arctica, but with a big 80's, almost Journey-like flair (songs mostly about emotions, relationships, love and nature). Don't worry though, this isn't more carbon copy corny 80's metal like White Snake, but they infuse enough modern production, keyboard and vocal prowess to make themselves a staple in the modern power metal realm. And if you're a modern younger power metal fan or an 80's headbanger, this album will be perfectly accessible and appealing to you. Let me put it this way, this is one of those rare gems of an album where you play it and every song is worthwhile and enjoyable, every song. It's a great listening experience and one of those albums you'll find yourself playing again and again. Not to also mention singing along to. These songs are all very upbeat, optimistic without being corny, and uplift my general mood every time I play it.
I wouldn't call this a progressive band by any means, they use the typical verse/chorus/verse/chorus formula and songs range around 3-5 minutes, but given lots of the creative melodies and catchy vocal chorus's and guitar hooks, it's enough to make this album pretty short and sweet, not getting too ahead of itself in any song so as too keep them all at a proper respectable length. Every piece seems to fall perfectly well given each of the songs, so it's not like one of those bands who creates a great chorus or verse yet get so pompus about their own technical prowess that they go on a 3 minute guitar solo or the song breaks into some sort of gloomy overlong tangent trying to infuse some sort of cheap atmosphere or theme. No, these guys keep it real, keep it simple, and it works wonderfully.
Fans of 80's metal, fans of Finnish power metal or power metal in general would do themselves a TREMENDOUS favor by picking up this album or downloading it.
