Reviewed by Miriam Ryan

This is the second album released by California's Blissed, the band who played the UK's Christmas Rock Night fest in 2003 when Stryper's Robert Sweet was a short term member. Blissed continued on and herewith deliver a bombastic set of love metal that combines a positive message with metal and melody. This is an album that is seeping with edgy attitude and it gives an immediate impression. From start to finish you can't help but be caught up in the dramatic vocals of David Pearson's metal ballads. Opening with the mighty "Superhero", a track bursting with power vocals and commanding guitar riffs, it leads the way into an album that consists predominantly of heavy, heart pounding tracks. Though each track has high energy and fine lyrics after a while it all begins to feel somewhat familiar and a little more variety would have been welcome. Thank goodness for "Bittersweet" the beautifully haunting lyrics and use of an acoustic guitar shows the hint of a softer side to the band. Despite the lack of variation this is a well-crafted album with some absorbing moments.

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