Just two years removed from their last platter (although only third disc in eleven years), singer George Tsalikis has another revamped line-up (only drummer Joe Cardillo remains). Such are the perils in trying to keep a US based traditional/power metal outfit together, while the biggest market is overseas. Speedy twin guitars, double bass driven drums and high-pitched vocals are Zandelle’s calling card, although a dose of keyboards can be heard throughout. Lyrical themes revolve around ancient mythology (Perseus/Medusa: ‘Killing Gaze’, where Tsalikis comes close to Kai Hansen’s voice; futile Spartan battle of ‘Thermopylae’).

The riffing guitars on ‘Broken Trust’ zigzag between the speaker channels, careful if listening under headphones! Violin can be heard in ‘Dark Nemesis’. Every tune exceeds five minutes, plenty of space for instrumental embellishment, with ‘Face Of War’ (9:10) and the 21:29 concluding ‘Eradicated Existence’ going gloriously overboard (hallmark or bane of the genre, depending on one’s opinion of power metal). The later is a fictional tale of a homeless loner working for the government as an unwitting/unknowing assassin of those speaking out against the power structure (who killed his family). Would love to see the stamina required to full this one off live!

One of America’s best-kept secrets.