Review by Adam M on October 14, 2010.

This is a spirited metal effort that has a lot of energy. The songs carry an impact from one track to the next. The album has an undeniable influence of folk melodies, but seems to carry similarities to Power Metal as well. There is a heroic aura to the proceedings that gives the band an authentic approach. They perform melodramatic material that has emotional punch and hits straight to the heart.

The music here sometimes pulls on your heartstrings, but at others it just drags on. This is because the band shares a lot of similarities to the Power Metal genre, though they don’t entirely fit into it. That means the tunes to be found here are at times uplifting, while at others underwhelming. This can be seen from the track 'Afterworld' which is catchy and epic, but gets slightly mired down by a cheesy approach. The performances here are reasonably well done with vocals that have a theatric style and aren’t overly memorable, but somewhat efficient. All in all, there are moments that stick out, but also ones that drag and that makes the album fall a little short of what the band could achieve. There’s enough of a pleasing mindset to generate some attention, but not enough potency and overall impact to really make this an outstanding listen.

Fans of traditional and Power Metal might find something to like here if they don’t go expecting an absolute masterpiece. "Guardian Of Eternity" is regardless a good album that is definitely worth a listen or two. The band put together enough melodic material to provide an enjoyable, if unspectacular listen.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 7
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 7.5
Originality: 6.5
Overall: 7

Rating: 7 out of 10

Review by Adam M on October 14, 2010.

This is a spirited metal effort that has a lot of energy. The songs carry an impact from one track to the next. The album has an undeniable influence of folk melodies, but seems to carry similarities to Power Metal as well. There is a heroic aura to the proceedings that gives the band an authentic approach. They perform melodramatic material that has emotional punch and hits straight to the heart.

The music here sometimes pulls on your heartstrings, but at others it just drags on. This is because the band shares a lot of similarities to the Power Metal genre, though they don’t entirely fit into it. That means the tunes to be found here are at times uplifting, while at others underwhelming. This can be seen from the track 'Afterworld' which is catchy and epic, but gets slightly mired down by a cheesy approach. The performances here are reasonably well done with vocals that have a theatric style and aren’t overly memorable, but somewhat efficient. All in all, there are moments that stick out, but also ones that drag and that makes the album fall a little short of what the band could achieve. There’s enough of a pleasing mindset to generate some attention, but not enough potency and overall impact to really make this an outstanding listen.

Fans of traditional and Power Metal might find something to like here if they don’t go expecting an absolute masterpiece. "Guardian Of Eternity" is regardless a good album that is definitely worth a listen or two. The band put together enough melodic material to provide an enjoyable, if unspectacular listen.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 7
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 7.5
Originality: 6.5
Overall: 7

Rating: 7 out of 10

Review by Adam M on April 3, 2012.

This is a melodic venture that shows a symphonic side that can be likened to material by bands like Nightwish and perhaps earlier material by Within Temptation. The music here is bolstered by an enchanting sound that gives the songs character and passion. There’s a fun feeling to the songs that is maybe akin to what might be found with Within Temptation.

The amount of energy put into the songs is commendable overall. However, this band doesn’t quite live up to the top works of that band or earlier material by The Gathering either. It’s a solid album and certainly well above average, but there isn’t enough interesting moments thrown throughout. The vocals are a very nice and accommodate the music in an appropriate manner. The music is also under the guidance of keyboards that help spruce up the songs quite appropriately. The overall vibe "Hour Of Joy" is as the name suggests very upbeat and positive throughout. There are few moments that really standout throughout, but the album is fairly consistent from beginning to end. There is a crystalline feel to the songs and an icy winter like atmosphere that enhances the entire proceedings.

Still, though the feeling is pleasant, it isn’t as grandiose or memorable as what The Gathering or Within Temptation produced at their peaks. Still, there is a lot to like with this disc, such as the delightfully glorious 'Circle Of Power'. Overall, "Hour Of Joy" was a fun endeavour that was very enjoyable to listen to.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 7.5
Atmosphere: 8.5
Production: 8
Originality: 7
Overall: 7.5

Rating: 7.7 out of 10