Clacking bass, hard-hitting drums, soaring synth leads, assertive guitar rhythms and Mischa Mang's melodic vocals are what Ivanhoe is all about (at least for now that they've finally returned). As you may already know, this is Ivanhoe's fourth album, and the first one not to feature the original vocalist Andy B. Franck (Symphorce, Brainstorm), since he left the band in 1998. The band lives true to the definition of power metal, although their songs aren't exactly true power metal songs... and that's what makes Ivanhoe more intriguing than your average power metal band. Like Vanden Plas, Ivanhoe plays a mixture of power metal and progressive metal. Not really belonging to either genre, the band definitely has some crossover appeal. Their latest offering is titled as "Walk in Mindfields", and it showcases the band's most mature work to date.

The album starts auspiciously, but unfortunately all the material on this album isn't of the same quality... instead there are also few weaker songs. Nonetheless, on the whole "Walk in Mindfields" manages to give out rather positive impression. As usual, both laid-back ballads and heavier songs are included. If I were to pigeon-hole the music of Ivanhoe, I'd say listeners of 80's progmetal who nowadays also listen to fair amount of power metal will most likely find this album somewhat appealing.

Sonically this is rather well-crafted album. The sounds are to the point with enough definition and the mastering has been handled skilfully as well. Nonetheless, perhaps the drums and percussion could have been mixed slightly better.

At times this album contains some really good sections, and thus I recommend you to check out "Walk in Mindfields"... apart from few weaker songs, WiM is rather good. Nonetheless, there's still room for improvement, so Ivanhoe's next album might favourably surprise us all.

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- MAGE (June 3rd, 2005)

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LINE-UP:
Mang, Mischa: Vocals Welsch, Achim: Guitar Soulas, Giovanni: Bass Seibel, Richard: Keyboards Brauchle, Sebastian: Drums
Producer:	Unavailable
Mixing by:	Unavailable
Mastering by:	Unavailable

	TRACKLIST:
	01. Walk in Mindfields 02. Bless My Soul 03. Scared 04. Arrows 05. History... 06. ...or Crime 07. Enemy 08. Take Me to the Spirit 09. What Love Is for 10. Who Will I Be 11. Bonus Video Clip: Walk in Mindfields Length: 47:21 + the video