Almost exactly a year after their debut, De Rerum Natura, Italian Symphonic metallers Moonlight Haze has already cranked out their second album. And you would think it would be a bit rushed and have a drop off in quality, but to their credit, they have kept things on a predictable, but high level with Lunaris.

The ‘Napalm Records template’ in full effect again: bombastic sugary, catchy power metal fronted by Chiara Tricarico and her competent, varied voice that never gets too soprano or operatic, though close here and there. Big brash orchestration, crunchy, catchy riffs, and lots of hooks.

The first 3 tracks sum up the sound perfectly “Till the End”, “The Rabbit of the Moon” and the title track come out of the gates with oodles of catchy chorus lines and bouncy riffs.  “Under Your Spell” slows things down a bit with the album’s first ballad. “Enigma” delivers an upbeat Italian sung number (there’s an English version of the song as a bonus track on the end of the album), and really highlights Tricarico pipes.

The album’s second half delivers more of the same with lengthy standouts “The Dangerous Art of Overthinking” (with some rare harsh vocals) and “Nameless City” as well as energetic “Without You” and enjoyable acoustic ballad “Of Birth and Death”.

Though not quite up there with Nightwish, Epica or Delain yet, Moonlight Haze is certainly on that trajectory with album number 2 and a rising, productive band in the genre.

[Visit the band's website]

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