Reviews

I'm gonna be honest here - I had stumbled upon their name on different sites and forums but had no idea what exactly they were about. I have only recently been able to comprehend what happened then and write these lines. Now I can say hand on heart that I'm a fan of this band. I'm proud there are people in Bulgaria who do not imitate, do not show off and do not waste their time, but shoot right in the bull's eye.

"From The Desert Of Desire" was many years in the making. This is the first album in the bands discography and I hope the latter keeps growing in years to come.

This is truly an incredible and solid start for musicians, who are not well-known to Bulgarian fans in a style, which is literally absent on our stage. We've all heard of bands who are the self-proclaimed "Fathers of Power Metal in Bulgaria" or who are completely happy with playing covers of Nightwish, Hammerfall and Helloween. Project Arcadia, however, have put together 9 smashing tracks in an album which would appeal even to the most pretentious fan.

Right from the start "Not My Destiny" shows that you are in for a quality listen with the incredibly catchy keyboard intro and deep, clean vocals, which will gradually cut your head off when the heavy guitar parts and drum barrages come in. Before you know what hit you, you will realize you are banging your hands on the table and you've cranked the volume to the top. "Not My Destiny" is a brilliant song with an incredible catchy riff, and chorus and vocals of highest quality.

„My Name is Fear" doesn't give the listener a break and starts with another powerful riff, turning into a catchy guitar melody, before the song slows down and gives you a chance to catch a quick breath. The lyrics are very powerful, and so is the chorus. You will remember the melody, and the guitar solos are magical.

At first „Lost Paradise" seems a little hard to grasp but you wouldn't skip it for the world.

„Isis" is a much more progressive song with loads of solos and, of course, much slower. It has another catchy chorus and the ending is completely acoustic, which is the icing of the cake.

„Ged" throws us back in rhythm with its memorable riffs and upbeat pace. Every time I listen to it, I imagine the audience outscreaming the band with the chorus. This is definitely a concert song. Once again the solos are incredibly energetic and the magic is truly there.

„Since The Flood" - another song that starts with a pretty high-energy charge. I advise everyone to listen to the lyrics. While you're doing so, think about your values in life.

One of my favourite songs on the album (I say one, because they are at least nine) is "The Message". This time we are dealing with a TRUE metal songs. It shows the band's attitude to what they do. It proves that to them music is something that makes them feel good and unites them, and not a tool to make money.

"Forever Lost" has a mystical intro and develops gradually. More virtuoso solos and a supercatchy chorus which repeats many times but in the end it leaves you wanting to hear it at least one more time.

„Without A Trace" is the last song from the album, but it certainly does not occupy this position because it's the weakest. A typical power metal composition with versatile guitars and solos throughout the song.

Just before you realize what's going on, you will find yourself giving the CD another spin.

To me "From The Desert Of Desire" is the best album, released by a Bulgarian band in the last 6 or 7 years and I think we will have to wait for quite a few years for something better to see the light of day. I hope this "something" is the band's second album.

Our fellow countrymen have finally released their debut album and the result is "From The Desert Of Desire" - heavy power metal in its true form, with no pose or false pretence. There is no compromise in the album and it crushes everything beneath its weight like a rhino would crush the scales. The songs are melodic and catchy even at first listen. The versatile, at times neo-classical guitars have found the perfect balance between familiar and new in the traditions of the genre, while Alexander's vocals reach so low and soar so high, that they could only provoke envy in the hordes of new "catchy and moving" pseudo-voices, so shamelessly hyped by the industry. I really hope Project Arcadia gets the recognition they deserve not only locally, but also abroad. Is it possible? Let me tell you - among the heaps of promo CD's of new bands that land on my desk every month, this is the album I've listened to the most, and it is not because I'm a patriot. I would advise those who would say "Yeah, right" and "Are you serious?", to listen to the songs "Ged", "My Name Is Fear" and the hit-single "Not My Destiny".

Iilnd, Pro-rock Magazine