Review by Doug Cornell

The J.R.R. Tolkien Lord of the Rings trilogy has made an impact on an awful lot of people.  Generations enjoyed the books, and now new generations are enjoying the magnificent Peter Jackson films.

It's only fair to announce that Soundestiny, a folk-rock outfit from down-under, are a bunch of Tolkien freaks.  Maybe they don't walk around wearing costumes, but I'll wager that at least one member of this band has an authentic Lord of the Rings sword hanging on the wall.

Shadow Rising is inspired by the Ring trilogy, but the band takes pains in their liner notes to explain that "no references to Tolkien characters or place-names" were made in this original recording.  Instead, the songs are lyrically about rings, fiery mountains, following your heart, and similar themes.  The music is a pleasant, smooooooth mixture of acoustic guitars, keyboards, and very folky sounding ensemble vocals by Elissa Maclean, Jeff Lefik, Paul Lines, and (lyricist) Darryl Grant Potter.  Ultimately, this CD sounds like Richard and Linda Thompson without the angst.

Stand out songs include the fast-paced "Far Away From Home," which features a clever, melodic guitar introduction and a solid chorus hook, the folk-rock track "Fiery Mountain of Doom," and the melancholy-drenched "Wintertime."  Every song on this CD benefits from the crisp, understated production by Greg Tschernez.

Shadow Rising is a relaxing album that is a solid addition to any folk-rock collection.