Knowing very little about a band prior to listening to their debut album has its advantages - there are no preconceived notions and expectations are minimal, at best. This leaves the music to be judged freely for what it - and not the band - is: Heavy Metal. Quite the concept, no? Now, add the fact that the band is associated with a genre not normally in your regular rotation of Metal music, and it makes for an interesting listening experience. Mixed feelings arise. This is exactly the case with Sweden's 8-POINT ROSE and their aptly named debut "Primigenia" (which means "first born"). The band rose from the ashes of EVERMOORE, bringing in Marcus Nygren to provide lead vocals. They grabbed headlines early by recording and releasing a cover of Michael Jackson's "This Is It"; not exactly prime Metal source material, but it did generate a lot of coverage for this young and up-and-coming group. Throw in some guest musicians and vocalists into the mix and more attention is garnered.

For a band whose average age is twenty years, 8-POINT ROSE have certainly put forth a solid debut. They cite many bands as influencing their sound; these generally fall into two main camps: Power Metal (TAD MOROSE, MORGANA LEFAY, EVERGREY) and Melodic Death Metal (IN FLAMES, SOILWORK, THE HAUNTED). Where does 8-POINT ROSE fit in this sonic spectrum? Somewhere smack dab in the middle. There is no question that "Primigenia" is Power Metal, filled with well-orchestrated compositions, rife with guitar harmonies, fast leads, double bass drumming and clean, soaring vocals. Yet the Melodeath influence is evident throughout almost all of the tracks: melodic yet intense riffing, frantic rolls, fills and beats, all punctuated with background growling and screaming, courtesy of guitarists Adam Johansson and Alexander Timander. Nygren's voice is not exactly the clean tenor of many Power Metal singers, having a certain degree of rawness to it, but it complements the band's sound very well.

So, are 8-POINT ROSE Power Metal with hints of Death? Are they Melodic Death Metal wrapped in Power? How about Melodic Power Death? The style of Metal should be secondary when considering a band's achievement. Forget the media-influenced need to label everything. Forget trying to pigeonhole a band into the appropriate genre. Better yet, forget what was written in this review, as it may influence your opinion. To put it simply, give "Primigenia" a listen and judge for yourself. You may be pleasantly surprised.