After almost a five-year wait, Sarah Brightman's latest album Symphony was released in American stores on January 29, 2008. Brightman has once again tried her hand at new genres, this time setting her sights on gothic and metal music. While doing so, she manages to keep the much-loved and much-expected pop and classical songs coming.

Sarah doesn't ease listeners into the new sound at all. She lets us know right away what we're in for with opening songs "Gothica," an instrumental piece reminiscent of The Exorcist's "Tubular Bells," and "Fleurs du Mal," a stormy symphonic song driven by hard rock guitar. They set the perfect tone for the rest of the album, which has the most rock influence since her 1995 release, Fly. A great rock song on the album is "I Will Be With You (Where the Lost Ones Go)," a power ballad duet with KISS's Paul Stanley. These two may be from different sides of the tracks, but they make beautiful music together.

The gothic theme also runs throughout the album, making itself heard in songs such as "Sanvean" a cover of a piece originally done by the gothic band Dead Can Dance. Don't worry, though. The darkness may be ever present, but it is not overwhelming.

Of course, Sarah wouldn't let us off without some traditional material. Symphony revives several formulas that helped to create some of her greatest successes. Most notably is "Canto Della Terra," a brand new duet with Andrea Bocelli, with whom Sarah recorded her biggest hit to date, "Time to Say Goodbye." Another such song is "Running" which is very similar in form to (and just as beautiful as) her hit "A Question of Honour." In addition there are plenty of pop songs like "Let it Rain" and the beautiful "Sarai Qui" (a version of Faith Hill's "There You'll Be") right alongside classical numbers like "Storia D'Amore" and "Schwere Traume."

Symphony is a must-have album for any fan of Sarah Brightman, and it can also be appreciated by those who love a dark twinge to their music. If you haven't heard it yet, I highly recommend you head over to Sarah's official website for a sample. You won't be sorry.