PLÄKK MAGAZINE # 10
(Estonia)

Polish band Valinor has been active since 1993, "Hidden Beauty" is their second album. Intro draws me some parallels with Middle-Eastern folk music, there is somehow oriental melody (very cool one!), what is presented also in following title track. Pre-info tells me that they play melodic and symphonic black metal, and it is their music root indeed, band has managed to cook great meal, where are added great doze of heavy/power metal and it is spiced a little with rawness of death metal. Guitars shoot tirelessly melodies and second strong backbone of their music are keyboards, in meaning of melodies and atmosphere as well. Weak link are sadly vocals, the voice is kind of out of context, too
monotonous and it doesn't convince me. In context of such epic music, maybe they should try some clean vocals here and there and some evil BM shrieks in brutal moments. Highlights of this album are "Hidden Beauty", "Hidden Beauty - The Beginning" (instrumental track, what is quite different from other songs, more epic) and "Requiem".

Note: 8/10
Andres