What Century Child and Wishmaster and even once was so great, the incredible vocals, the hardness of the guitar riffs, the driving drums, the virtuoso melodies and arrangements, more sporadically, in the subsequent albums. Instead, it was partially Musical direction, other genres were introduced. While this also had its appeal and bad the albums were not sure ... but it was not a real symphonic metal more!
To get to the actual song times: It would be good if he would be any new, unknown rock band. With metal that has to do unfortunately little and I wonder now how well the next album will be like? Will it be a step back to the metal roots or is it again in a different direction? The flute deposits and the impression of the song let me doubt.
Now, we come again to the competition at the top of the genre ... as we have on the one hand the brutal epic metallers from the Netherlands, Epica. Secondly, the master of fast and yet incredibly melodic game, Kamelot. Was it at the time of Once really hard to favor one of the three bands (not really, the albums "Epica" and "The Black Halo" are IMHO the benchmark), it is now quite simple. At least in the sense that NW can not keep up.
I find that very sad and hope still on a compelling new album, with its old strength!
