The Best AOR / Pomp album of all times? For many people, PROPHET's self-titled debut it is. A fusion of '80s AOR and Melodic Rock with late Seventies bright progressive / pomp rock, this album is pure gold from start to finish. As in most albums of those mentioned styles, keyboards / synths play a fundamental role adding to the complexity of the song structures. Vocal duties are handled by no less than three of the band's members, and one of them is Ted Poley (who of course would later front Danger Danger), who actually is the drummer of the band here.
When they released their debut álbum, Words Of Nostradamus, back in 2000, Nostradameus were little more than endowed students of the Swedish power metal school. And what is Swedish power metal, you ask? Well, take the Finnish power metal stylings of Sonata Arctica (minus the keyboards), mix them with the hard rock overtones of local heroes Hammerfall (minus most of the cheese), add a pinch of mid-period Helloween joyfulness and just a hint of Blind Guardian medievalism. Voilá! Swedish power metal, as seen by Nostradameus…