...And the Award for this Haul's 'Unexpected Surprise' goes to.......

[Powermetal Rebel]

Almora - '1945'
Not sure why I ordered this CD as I've never heard of this band before but it is a gem.
It's a short CD -
Just over 36 minutes, and that includes English and Turkish (?) versions of the title track.
The CD opens with a short (Blackmore's Night style) celtic instrumental and never looks back... Throughout the CD there are clear Nightwish, Skyclad, Opera, Classical, and of course epic powermetal influences that blend together for one of the most enjoyable listening experiences I've had in awhile.
This CD will not appeal to heavy metal purists but is strongly recommended for those seeking departure from the norm with celtic flavour.

PMR

 

[Trans-Siberian Outcast]

News to me. Never heard of them, but I do like some turkish bands, with Mezarkabul leading the pack. I also love anything folk in my metal. The beaty and the beast vocal approach isn't my favorite, but I'm not opposed to it either. Possibly I'll check this out soon, although my list is a bit over-populated right now.

 

[Powermetal Rebel]

News to me. Never heard of them, but I do like some turkish bands, with Mezarkabul leading the pack. I also love anything folk in my metal. The beaty and the beast vocal approach isn't my favorite, but I'm not opposed to it either. Possibly I'll check this out soon, although my list is a bit over-populated right now.

LOL - Thanks to WYV - My list is getting over-populated too.
One of the reasons I really like this CD is because they resist the B & the B cookie-cutter approach. Each song focuses on a single vocalist & style. There are obvious major influences like Blackmore's Night, Skyclad, Nightwish and Rhapsody so they don't score too high for originality. Where they really exceed is their ability to write excellent songs and not bombard the CD with repetition with worthless fillers. It is a short, solid, enjoyable listen.
Might be woth a visis to the torrents... Look for 'Kaf Dağının Ardında', '1945', 'Iron Nation' or ''Hands Of Destiny' - Not that any or all one of them could give you an idea what to expect from the remaining CD.

Take care -
PMR