Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

From out of the embers of past regrets and former glories, comes a gleaming light that steers far from the edge of patina and brings back one of the great voices of Symphonic Metal, the illustrious Anette Olzon and her debut solo album Shine.

Shine it does as well and despite moments in which she may have seriously doubted herself after having to leave Finnish Metal stars Nightwish, any such fears and trepidation, the twinkle in the eye and the lustre in her voice are still very much essential in framing the type of music that many have come to expect from Ms. Olzon.

However this is not as straightforward as you would think, the mood not as uncomplicated as many would perhaps require and each song throws in the extra tone of estrangement, the parting of several lifetimes and life choices in which Ms. Olzon naturally and understandably perhaps still feels the rawness and bitter farewells still hanging in the air. Music is sometimes never better when its personal, one of the reasons in which self-penned lyrics from the lead vocalist or front persona are normally sang with so much depth and connection rather that the sometimes disjointed rift when sang from an outsiders view.

The songs on the album have the collective feel as Stefan Orn and Johan Glossner join in the writing of the songs but throughout it all it is Anette’s life that comes under the lyrical microscope, a unifying bonding process which sees tracks such as Lies, Moving Away and the exceptional Floating are so personal that the cathartic progression is one in which many will identify with and nod sagely at the feel of humanity and empathy that comes pouring out of them.

With time everything hurts less but some wounds are embedded deep and the music that has been created for the album is of such a high quality that they will surely resonate across the measure of time to come.

Shine is a purifying album, highly charged and emotional and above all intensely liberating.

Ian D. Hall