For me, one of the first steps when writing a new review – apart from listening to the record, of course – is checking out the band profile on Encyclopaedia Metallum aka The Metal Archives. In the case of UNDER RUINS, the genre is given as epic Heavy / Power Metal, with only one topic listed under themes of the songs: “The golden age of piracy”. RUNNING WILD, anyone? Far from it! Instead, the band’s sound seems like a highly elaborate combination of ATLANTEAN KODEX and GRAND MAGUS. Throughout the record, the band takes you on epic journeys across the oceans of your imagination. The exalted, grand atmosphere of the songs is somewhat hampered by a too prominent drum sound which is particularly obvious during the first two tracks ‘MDCCCXVI’ and ‘Eighteen Hundred And Froze To Death’. However, this does not mean a lack of quality. From song three, ‘Lost Amidst The Unfathomable Abyss’, at the latest, it becomes clear that UNDER RUINS have a great singer in Nuno Miguel de Barros Fernandes, who manages to evoke a great atmosphere through his vocals. ‘Lost Amidst…’ and the following ‘Moonlit Requiem’ are also my song recommendations. Apart from the singer, who also was in LANFEAR, it is quite striking in how many other bands from a variety of subgenres of Heavy Metal the other members of UNDER RUINS have played before, with some great names from the scene in Southern Germany and Austria in particular. ATLANTEAN KODEX? Seems logical and certainly reverberates in the sound of UNDER RUINS. MAJESTY? Does not seem too far-fetched, especially when listening to ‘Crimson Seas Of Courage’. But extreme Metal bands such as MY DARKEST HATE and BELPHEGOR? Dear me! This might explain the skill and force displayed in the songs of the album, and their many individual facets. Be sure to give this one a listen! www.facebook.com/underruins, www.facebook.com/fhmetal