Five years on from the initial collaboration between two of today’s finest vocalists, Jorn Lande (ex-Ark/Masterplan) and Russell Allen (Symphony X), there’s a third album, comprised of a dozen new compositions, written by Primal Fear guitarist Magnus Karlsson. If you had to pick which career this material more closely parallels, it would be the AOR stylings of Jorn’s (superior) solo efforts, not the heavier, albeit progressive Sym X.

The opening title track is a little grittier than most, while ‘Judgment Day’ seems a Thin Lizzy memorial and ‘Eternity’ is an old school power (love) ballad. Many of these tunes have an orchestral/keyboard underpinning (sometimes at the expense of guitars, in terms of solo spots). Speaking of six-strings, they begin ‘Turn All Into Gold’ and chug (somewhat out of place) throughout the otherwise 80s tinged tuned. Frequently Karlsson’s effort kicks things off, only to be washed over by a wave of smoothing (and smothering) keyboards. Really seems a shame to waste such talented vocal chords on such pabulum. In fact, anyone longing for the day of big haired (oft sappy) balladry will probably find much to like on "The Showdown". Otherwise, steer clear. This is music for people who think the likes Billy Joel and Phil Collins are "rock."