Italy is for sure not the Metal nation number one but open minded labels like My Kingdom Music have supported continuously their local underground so that a lot of interesting albums have the chance to be noticed by a wider audience these days. A further Italian act for open minded people is the one man project LORD AGHEROS which is presenting a wild mélange of keyboard based music and more traditional Metal elements on his second release. The complete album has such a unique atmosphere and all eleven tracks seem to be born / composed with the idea in mind that they should represent one unity. Their label is connecting the act to bands like SUMMONING and / or ORPHANED LAND (mainly due to some ethnic influences on “Of Beauty And Sadness “) but I’m not completely happy with this statement. Especially under the circumstances that there is an Italian band which has released two albums with nearly the same musical approach over a decade ago. And hopefully some Voices readers still remember the great “Black Metal” combo EVOL and their “Dreamquest” and “Ancient Abbey” releases via Adipocere Records. If EVOL hadn’t split up at the end of the 90s maybe they would sound like their country mates LORD AGHEROS in 2010. Definitely a unique piece of music so please check: www.myspace.com/lordagheros, www.mykingdommusic.net