Time was (circa ’95-‘96) these Norwegians were the definitive word on female-fronted metal, utilizing dual sexed vocalists before it became hip. Then Liv Kristine Espenaes flew the coup (to partner with eventual husband/Atrocity frontman Alex Krull) and formed Leaves’ Eyes. It appears now they’ve simply set eyes on re-creating The Gathering’s 1997 album, “Nighttime Birds”. The ten latest tracks are decidedly lacking in the ‘metal’ quotient, piano or synthesizers generally replacing guitars and the tempo/intensity is certainly closer to Goth than rock, which isn’t always a bad thing.

Paradoxically, ‘Astray’ (prophetic title?) opens with staccato guitar and male vox, before returning to the femme subtleties (although the bouncy riff remains throughout, albeit deeply buried). ‘Illusions’ verges on modern indie rock and the concluding title track is predominately a piano/voice ballad. Mainstay vocalist Raymond J. Rohonyi provides the odd gruff accompaniment (opening ‘Hide And Seek’, ‘Frozen’, ‘Hollow’), but overall, this is a disc for mellowing out, not rocking out.