Reviewed by Rob Birtley

Hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Promise Land is a Christian symphonic metal band and this is their full length debut. Their sound sits somewhere between Evergrey, Queensryche and Seventh Wonder with lyrics that convey a strong narrative. These guys are storytellers in the grand manner. What sets them apart from the pack is the twin lead vocals of David Michael and Rod Kozikowski. The band themselves describe their music as orchestral cinematic metal and the orchestral into track does have the feel of a movie curtain-raiser. Track three, "C.I.U." (which stands for "Christ In Us"), opens like a Queensryche song circa 'Operation Mind Crime' and illustrates the range that the trio possess as musicians with both Michael and Kozikowski sharing the lead as they unpack a powerful tale of urban violence. If any song illustrates the big screen feel of this album it's "Hiding Place". The song is based on the true story of a modern day hero of faith, Corrie ten Boom, who hid Jewish refugees from the German authorities and was subsequently imprisoned in a political concentration camp. "Holy" is a great song, its opening reminding me of Dream Theater with the same sort of epic scale. "Eclipse" starts the finale to the album in fine style and is almost Wagnerian in texture being pure instrumental whilst reiterating the themes from earlier tracks. It and "Harmony In Ruins (Orchestral)" have a distinct progressive element which draws the album to a fine close. All in all Promise Land demonstrate they bring something vital and fresh to symphonic metal.

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