The "better" Nightwish?

Nightwish again with Tarja and "good" music? - That is the first question that arises while the strong, mid-tempo opener "A Prophecy Of Worlds To Fall" sounds. No, is the new album of Xandria from Bielefeld, which I consider mediocre gothic metal band had more in remembrance.

After brisk "Valentine" and the pompous "Forevermore" one would almost bet on it, that it is here is the successor of "Wishmaster", because both the songwriting, as well as the excellent vocals by Manuela Kraller (whose voice Tarja Turunen's almost on's like icing on the cake), has close resemblance with the earlier music of Finnish symphonic metallers.

That may not be very original, but in the contrary of the lean (for me and many others) "Imaginaerum" are here correct earwigs and "METAL" songs emerged, which are very high in spite of the unique "early-Nightwish-strike". Have boards such as "Soul Crusher", "The Lost Elysion" or "Cursed" the Finns no longer attempt it for ages, great! Striking is also the total outstanding guitar work of Philip remains Meier and Marco Heubaum.

The ballads are allowed in as an album of course also not missing, and with "The Dream Is Still Alive" and "A Thousand Letters" are two of them contain beneficial to stand out through the partly "heavy" guitars of pure "Schmalz ballads".

Actually worth five stars, because of the obvious "bonds" but I can "only" give four stars, but they are fully justified, because even a Holopainen had these songs can not do better.
The question of whether there is an alternative to Nightwish in Sympho-Metal, should therefore be answered!