Windhawk
Impressive debut album from this German outfit.
They are one of many bands following the Dream Theater school of progressive metal; but instead of following the rulebook to the letter this band has used it for general guidance only, and have worked hard to make something unique.
Some segments are typical Dream Theater still, rough guitar riffs mixed with epic keyboard textures is the element most often popping up in the compositions. But the warm, gentle and emotional vocals, the inclusion of warm and gentle mellow sections as well as darker, more ominous atmospheres done with subtle nuances rather than melodramatic overkill, the inventive use of many keyboard sounds and layers of those; small details like a fanfare-like keyboard theme at the end of a long tune; and having small details adding textures to the songs in general really sets these guys apart.
Slightly weak production and some compositional weaknesses are the only weak aspects of this release; but neither of them should keep fans of the genre away from checking out this one. Overall a very good release, and one of the best debut albums I've come across in this genre.