It's been just shy of twenty years since Leaves' Eyes, the band formed by former Theatre Of Tragedy singer Liv Kristine and the entire lineup of Atrocity, unleashed their debut album, "Lovelorn." Fittingly, the group are celebrating this milestone with a brand new album, their third to feature Kristine's replacement Elina Siirala, named "Myths Of Fate." The Ludwigsburg-born quintet has been through plenty of ups and downs since then, but the music has always been of a good standard and so it's unsurprising that they continue their reputation with their ninth studio album.

The album kicks off with "Forged By Fire," a track that perfectly captures the spirit of the band as a whole. It's an epic, atmospheric piece complimented by a wonderfully placed piano and a perfect way to get the ball rolling on a Leaves' Eyes album. This is followed nicely by "Realm Of Dark Waves," a very catchy number that increases the excitement level noticeably. While the verses seem to be scaled back a little, it's all to unleash a more powerful chorus.

While many of the songs showcased demonstrate a little of the band's beauty and a little of their beast, the strongest songs arguably lean harder into one or another. Case in point, "Goddess Of The Night" is a truly bewitching ballad with a Celtic flavour to it, wherein Elina Siirala really shines. To illustrate the statement further, the following track, "Sons Of Triglav" goes in the other direction, being led by the growls of Alexander Krull. Another highlight would have to be "In Eternity," which is tailor-made for the live setting, stomping along with a meaty weight and offering audiences plenty of opportunities to sing along.

"Myths Of Fate" is a good album, very good in fact, but what stops it from being excellent is a few too many songs following the same formula. Several songs begin with an orchestral or dark intro, then kick in the door to the song like the Beastie Boys famously did in a certain video, before the verse lessens the pace, after which the chorus amps up the energy. It's a pattern that works, but only when used sparingly. "Fear The Serpent" is one example of this, while closing track "Sail With The Dead" does the same, missing the chance to finish the record on a high.

With "Myths Of Fate," Leaves' Eyes' legacy remains intact. It contains several songs that could become staples of their set lists for years to come and while it can become repetitive at points, it's well worth your time. Their mix of symphonic, Viking, and Gothic metal all blend together very well, as it always has with Krull at the helm, and fans longtime and recent will no doubt enjoy this latest output. A solid album from a reliably good band.