Tarot - Gravity Of Light

Heavy Metal
Nuclear Blast

2010

1. Satan is Dead
2. Hell Knows
3. Rise!
4. Pilot Of All Dreams
5. Magic and Technology
6. Calling Down the Rain
7. Caught in the Deadlights
8. I Walk Forever
9. Sleep in the Dark
10. Gone

Tarot are one of those bands who have been kicking around the metal scene practically forever (Ok since the mid-80s but that's a long freakin time at this point), but some people are still not aware of. Never a band that hit big success, but they have carved out a place for themselves and have gained a bit more notice due to the Nightwish connection. I've always enjoyed their music so of course I checked into this new one.

If you've heard any of the post 2000 work from Tarot you pretty much know what to expect here. This is somewhere between straight up heavy metal and power metal with something of a dark vibe to the music at times. Gravity Of Light basically sounds like what they've been doing for the past few albums. Nothing necessarily wrong with that as this is another solid album with some good songs boosted by Marco's strong voice. The only drawback I can find here is that Gravity Of Light fails to do anything new and distinguish itself from there other recent albums, but it's a minor complaint. This is still a good listen.

In conclusion, Gravity Of Light delivers what is expected, for better or worse. If you like Tarot then you'll continue to like them. If you don't, this won't change your mind. Pretty good listen that I'd recommend to fans of Tarot and/or Marco Hietala.

Highlights: Calling Down The Rain, Satan Is Dead, I Walk Forever

Rating - 3.5/5

Tarot - Crows Fly Black

Heavy Metal
King Foo Entertainment

2006

1. Crows Fly Black
2. Traitor
3. Ashes To The Stars
4. Messenger Of Gods
5. Before The Skies Come Down
6. Tides
7. Bleeding Dust
8. You
9. Howl!
10. Grey

With Nightwish on shaky ground, I guess Marco felt he could take the time to revisit his other band Tarot and thus we have a new album. Really I wish Marco would simply ditch that band and make Tarot more active... far superior band.

At any rate, what you have here is probably what you'd expect if you've heard the last Tarot album. Thick as hell riffs, the signature sound of Marco's vocals, and some fairly moody/dark moments sprinkled in throughout with excellent use of keyboards to add to the ambiance. No real big surprises here, but Tarot has really developed a great sound for themselves and there's no real reason to take any big leaps in this reviewer's opinion. Tarot's albums always manage to be very headbangable but also more than that. I love the way they manage to work in such great dark atmospheres without losing the ability to just rip. The definite highlight of this album for me is the excellent Before The Skies Come Down which has an incredible melodic flow to it that strangely reminds me of Judas Priest's Point Of Entry album... which I've always thought underrated. Kinda Tarot's heaviness mixed with that and the results are fantastic.

Basically, Tarot continues in fine fashion here. Any fan of a really heavy/thick riffs akin to something German power metal might produce, heavy gothic metal, or Marco would do well to check this album out.

Highlights: Before The Skies Come Down, Messenger Of Gods, You

Rating - 3.5/5