Metal Underground.com

In 2009, while searching for a record deal, Artizan released an excellent self-titled EP. Now that the band's got that deal — with Pure Steel Records — Artizan has resurrected the three songs from that EP, and added another five, on "Curse Of The Artizan."

Though the new tracks don't quite measure up to the initial three, Artizan's full-length debut is far from cursed. Fans of Iron Maiden-style progressive metal will be quite pleased with this one.

The tunes from Artizan's first EP, "Fire," "Rise" and "Game Within A Game," all feature the expert lead guitar work of Hermanus Rombouts, who has since left the band. Though Tony Smotherman does his best on the remaining tunes, especially the title track, "Curse Of The Artizan," he doesn't quite reach the same level of playing. It's worth noting that the band now has a new guitarist, Steffen Robitzsch, who didn't play on this record.

Of the new tracks, "Curse Of The Artizan," with its big chunks of acoustic guitar, and "Trade The World," with its latter-day Iron Maiden feel, especially stand out. On the other hand, there are "The Man In Black" (about someone more sinister than Johnny Cash, methinks) and especially "Fading Story" feel pretty generic, despite Ty Braden's always-excellent vocals.

Though partly crafted with reused materials, "Curse Of The Artizan" is a mostly worthwhile creation.