Abyss's Review:
"The album is sickeningly sweet in its melodies, most of which would
fit right along some of the sappier stuff on the radio today."
I guess I should start this out by warning all of you who are
unfamiliar with this band that they don't really resemble metal at
all. While Dan Swano, one of the creative forces of Nightingale, is
most widely known for death metal acts such as Edge of Sanity and
Bloodbath, this album is a progressive rock album, so be forewarned
that this is for the open minded. Thusly, if I use the term 'heavy'
it must be taken with a rock sensibility in mind.
While this is billed as a 'progressive' rock project, the only thing
that really seems to put it in that category is the multitude of
sounds that are layered into every song. Aside from this deep feel,
there is little experimentation going on, and most songs hit with a
sharp pop sensibility. I have to admit, as much as I love Dan Swano's
work, I really haven't been in the mood to listen to this style of
music in awhile, and that's made it a little harder for me to fully
embrace this record. This record is very successful, however, and its
strongest asset is the very characteristic that might make most
metalheads disregard it.

"For what this album is, it's damn near perfect, although I'd be
lying if I said I didn't wish it had a little more of an edge about
it."
The album is sickeningly sweet in its melodies, most of which would
fit right along some of the sappier stuff on the radio today. And
despite the layers draped around and through each and every song, it
is these melodies that define the album. Each song inevitably strikes
a pop chord come chorus time, giving each song a structure that is
hard to envision as progressive.

Basically if you like one of these songs you will like them all
because they are all very similar stylistically. That isn't to say
that all of the songs sound the same, because they don't, but they
definitely all utilize the same vibe. Songs like "Shadowman," "State
of Shock" and "The One" strike me as brilliant soft rock (yes it
would be stretching it to call this stuff hard rock), and I find
myself humming the choruses and annoying the people sitting next to
me on the subway. Another standout track is "Eternal" which is
probably the most far-reaching song on the record, and definitely its
centerpiece. It has a very epic sense about it, and really puts the
remainder of the album in perspective.

So while I must admit I've really wanted to break a lot of things
lately (it's hard damn work being a NY Giants fan... stupid fucking
49ers!), this album has let me mellow out a little, which isn't
always a bad thing. For what this album is, it's damn near perfect,
although I'd be lying if I said I didn't wish it had a little more of
an edge about it. One word review: Pleasant.

4 Stars
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Death's Review:

"Instead, we have Edge of Sanity meets Whitesnake meets Tears for
Fears."
Dan Swano has been involved with many projects over the years,
spanning the full spectrum of metal, including Edge of Sanity, Pan-
Thy-Monium, Unicorn, Wounded Knee, Ulan Bator, Karaboudjan, Odyssey,
Infestad, Bloodbath and Star One. He is truly one of the most
prolific and talented musicians in the underground metal scene.

Still, his new project, Nightingale, pretty much sucks. Well, let me
take that back. It doesn't suck. There's a big difference between an
album that sucks and something that I, personally, just don't like
all that much. So let me rephrase: I just don't like Nightingale all
that much. Yes, the musicianship is apparent and Swano's musical
vision is expansive enough to evoke thoughts of the continents of the
world. The problem? Those "continents" are conjured because the band
reminds me of eighties A.O.R. synth pop like Europe, Asia and that
song "Africa" by Toto. This is not the prog metal album I was looking
for.

"From a metalhead's perspective who is a fan of Bloodbath and Edge of
Sanity, this is pretty much crap."
Instead, we have Edge of Sanity meets Whitesnake meets Tears for
Fears. Sure, there is a nice metallic guitar solo flourish on track
two (listed as track 28 on the packaging), "Shadowman," that catches
my attention but only lasts for a moment. Then there are the pure
synth-pop songs that have very little to do with metal like track
four (or track 30 on the packaging), "Falling," or track eight
(34), "The One." From an overall rock/pop music perspective, these
are probably some of the "catchiest" songs on the record and are
worthy of note. From a metalhead's perspective who is a fan of
Bloodbath and Edge of Sanity, this is pretty much crap. I mean c'mon,
let's be honest, if you walked into someone's house who didn't like
metal and they were listening to "The One" or "Falling" and you
didn't know what it was, you'd be making fun of their bad musical
taste. So let's be consistent here, shall we? Sure, I like mellow
stuff too like Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree, Tool, Anathema, Katatonia
and Amorphis, all of which is way heavier than Nightingale and all of
which smokes this new Swano record.

Bottom line? The production and musicianship are first-rate, but
unless you are a huge Swano fan or you like this type of sound, you
really should stay away.

2 Stars
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Hel's Review:

"Those who demand all aggression, all the time, are not those who
will appreciate Nightingale."
I have long thought of Dan Swanö as a Devin Townsend-type character.
You know, an incredibly brilliant songwriter and musician, driven by
his need to pour out every single note in his soul, no matter how
heavy or light it may be. Hevy Devy's Terria was by no means a brutal
metal album, but it was atmospheric and wonderful, despite its mellow
bent. To me, Alive Again has very similar mellow sensibilities. The
point is not to land you on your ass through sheer heaviness, but
instead, to land you there through sheer emotion and melodic
infection.

"Skeptics should take the time to completely focus on the album
through one full revolution before naysaying it. Lighten up."

Those who demand all aggression, all the time, are not those who will
appreciate Nightingale. The most "metal" thing on the album is the
piercing scream that ends it. But, if you have ever been inclined to
appreciate the more mellow side of metal, just hop onboard to see
where the journey leads - you may find yourself entranced by this
record, as I am. I am a novice when it comes to Nightingale, so I am
unable to clarify where this album lies in the spectrum of this band.
But I can tell you this: Edge of Sanity or Bloodbath, for example,
this is not.

Everyone here knows that, in most instances, when I am presented with
two metal albums, I tend to like the heaviest one. My favorite kind
of metal is death. So you may be asking yourself, "what the
hell?" "The hell" is this - Nightingale's latest is a superb example
of infectious songwriting and superior musicianship. Swanö has an
incredible clean singing voice, which lends itself wonderfully to the
music on the album. I am convinced that a message lies behind the
lyrics of the album, but I have not yet taken the extra step of
discerning it. For now, I'm enjoying it for what it is. Skeptics
should take the time to completely focus on the album through one
full revolution before naysaying it. Lighten up.

4 Stars

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