Sandstone: Delta Viridian Fans of intelligent, non-dated old-school melodic metal would do well to check out this Irish collective. As if trying to score points with literarily-inclined hipsters, Sandstone have created a concept album based on Kurt Vonnegut's 'Cat's Cradle.' But for metalheads, this will pale in importance next to the fine melodic metal compositions and skilled, tasteful playing on display, though it is vocalist Sean McBay who steals the show with his clear, impassioned Geoff Tate-meets-Tony Harnell wail. A damn solid release, the quality of which leads me to believe this band will be one to watch in the near future.