Those who were attracted to the metal styling and shocking concept of Cantara Anachoreta might be slightly disappointed with this follow-up recording by Antichrisis.

Absent on this album, for the most part, are the contorted vocals, the sonorous electric guitars, and the overt contempt for Christianity.

In their place are melodic pop-rock pieces incorporating the Irish pipes with additional acoustic instrumentation as well as more listener-friendly and less tangible images of otherworldliness.

Is that Davy Spillane on uilleann pipes? Actually, the role of piper is played by new bandmember Naex; his instrument figures prominently into this new, revamped sound.

From the pipe solo on the opening track "How Can I Live on Top of the Mountain?," it's quite clear that this is either a changed or highly venturesome band.

Songwriter, instrumentalist, and arranger Sid certainly displays his versatility on this album; however, the overall mood of A Legacy of Love is anything but varied.

Singer Dragonfly, who split lead-vocal duties on their previous album, assumes the lion's share of them here, but while her voice has an upbeat quality, it doesn't negate the album's inherent despair.

The bonus track "End of December," which sounds like a pained Larry Kirwan (Black 47) farewell, is indicative of that prevalence of sorrow.