Since I discovered this CD (accidentally) more than five years ago, I've put out an offer to a number (probably 40 or 50) of people I know, saying basically "go buy this CD, and if you don't think it was worth every penny you spent on it, I'll buy it from you for what you paid for it".

Nearly every person I made that offer to went out and bought this CD, and I have -never- been taken up on my offer to buy it back from someone. Not once.

I have personally owned no fewer than three copies of this CD -- I listen to it often enough that normal handling wear-and-tear starts to become an issue. It's really that good.

At any rate, get it. Really. You won't regret it.

I bought this album on a whim one night, and as a result, I've been quickly amassing everything else he's done. It feels like a soundtrack to a movie, and in a way, that's what it is. From the opening of Tallis The Messenger, to the almost medieval feel of The Journey Begins, to the mystic feel of the Temple of Vaal, it's a great journey of imagination. My only wish is that it was longer. It was even very interesting to read the story in the CD Booklet, co-written with Mercedes Lackey.

Why only 4 stars? because the D.Ark.One's music is constantly growing, changing, and evolving technically and "spiritually" (man, you know the Duke loves this C.D., 'cause I don't usually talk like that). So I believe his best will always be yet to come (we can assess what his best work was when he's dead and gone). But this is indeed my favorite C.D. of all time. I saw this C.D. advertised in a fantasy gaming magazine, and I didn't know who this guy was or what they were selling (didn't really pay much attention). I thought maybe it was a C.D.Rom adventure, audio book, or whatever. Then a few weeks later I saw it on sale at the PX ( I was in the Army- stationed in Baumholder, Germany at the time). I bought it just to see what kind of music this would be. As the first song opened up with the New Agey bwon bwon bwwwon sound and the ganeric hip-hop beat I thought, "O.K., looks like we got ourselves another Enigma clone, here, folks". But as the album progressed I felt a barrier being broken down and a whole new world open up to me. THIS was the kind of music I've been trying to hear all my life...energetic w/o being blaringly noisy, Imaginative and cinematic w/o being attached to any particular soundtrack to a movie ( except the one in my imagination ), and it just clicked with me. Wings of the Shadow is the album's best track and they're all just incredible. Since then, I, at one time or another, have owned every C.D. Dave has ever put out ( yes, including that Robot Wars soundtrack). His music touches the very soul of my imagination like no other...and I love him for that. Just so you know, my top 5 favorite albums are: 5.Kitaro- Light of the Spirit, 4.Styx-The Grand Illusion, 3.Precious Waters: Rivers of Life-A NARADA Collection, 2.Vangelis-Voices, and of course...this one.

I love reading Robert Jordan's books. But what I love more than just reading them, is setting them to music. And I have found no better musical accompaniment than the music of Arkenstone. It simply takes me away. You MUST buy this cd. :)

This is, in my humble opinion, the BEST release from David. With this CD, he has taken off in another direction with his music. Although the lyrics left something to be desired, I think his vocals add to the magic and mystery of his music. The CD starts with an immediate attention-grabbing chord, and it does not release you until the end of the CD. The rhythm is his best to date, with a little experimenting in some of the songs (example: The Voice....not many artists use 9 beats per measure) DEFINITELY buy this CD.