Delain follow up their 2023 album Dark Waters, their first with Diana Leah on vocals, with this new EP that features two new tracks, two re-recorded older songs and host of live cuts. With their previous singer, much of her influence came into the song writing towards her final releases with the band, many re-appearing in her solo work but now Delain sounds like what founding member Martijn Westerholt wants them too. Heavy on the electronics, I mean he is a keyboard player, but with the metallic backing too, Dance With The Devil feels like electro-pop, a gothic thump that has been the trademark of Amaranthe for a while, putting a little Eurodance fuzziness in their mixture too.
It does breakdown too, the heaviness coming from the harsh vocals, a moreish new addition to their setlists, it's followed by The Reaping a track that has a style that is perhaps a bit more familiar to long term Delain fans. Speaking of long term fans, the version of Sleepwalkers Dream, originally on Lucidity, does a lot to dispel any criticism others may have of Diana. She soars and gives a powerful performance here with the full use of her voice. In the middle of the record is the live tracks which will show anyone who has not seen the band in this formation what to expect on their up coming UK tour. It features April Rain, which is still an absolute classic and will make even the coldest detractor embrace Diana as the singer.
Capping off this collection of curios with some instrumental versions of the new tracks Dance With The Devil is an ideal little stopgap ready for their tour. 7/10
Stranger Vision – Faust Act 1 : Prelude To Darkness (Wasteland Records)
Anyone who has read this publication for the 13 years we've been going, then you'll know that prog and prog metal are one of my go to genres. Bands like Dream Theater, Symphony X, Fates Warning and many more are all in my favourite artists, so when I first heard the music of Italian's Stranger Vision, I knew I would enjoy what they had to offer.
It does breakdown too, the heaviness coming from the harsh vocals, a moreish new addition to their setlists, it's followed by The Reaping a track that has a style that is perhaps a bit more familiar to long term Delain fans. Speaking of long term fans, the version of Sleepwalkers Dream, originally on Lucidity, does a lot to dispel any criticism others may have of Diana. She soars and gives a powerful performance here with the full use of her voice. In the middle of the record is the live tracks which will show anyone who has not seen the band in this formation what to expect on their up coming UK tour. It features April Rain, which is still an absolute classic and will make even the coldest detractor embrace Diana as the singer.
Capping off this collection of curios with some instrumental versions of the new tracks Dance With The Devil is an ideal little stopgap ready for their tour. 7/10
Stranger Vision – Faust Act 1 : Prelude To Darkness (Wasteland Records)
Anyone who has read this publication for the 13 years we've been going, then you'll know that prog and prog metal are one of my go to genres. Bands like Dream Theater, Symphony X, Fates Warning and many more are all in my favourite artists, so when I first heard the music of Italian's Stranger Vision, I knew I would enjoy what they had to offer.
Formed only in 2019, Stranger Vision have three releases behind them one EP and two full length albums so they are not a band who rest on their laurels, inspired by the bands I've mentioned earlier. On this third full length they even features some guest vocals from James LaBrie on Nothing Really Matters and also from Italian rock singer Angelica Patti on Two Souls.
These extra vocalists are brought in to tell more of the concept that this album is based upon. Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe’s play about the human condition and a spiritual journey, this is as the title says, part one of the concept and it's a marked improvement sonically to the previous Stranger Vision records, as with so many prog bands, concept records usually define who they are as a band and with Faust all the band are playing at the highest level.
These extra vocalists are brought in to tell more of the concept that this album is based upon. Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe’s play about the human condition and a spiritual journey, this is as the title says, part one of the concept and it's a marked improvement sonically to the previous Stranger Vision records, as with so many prog bands, concept records usually define who they are as a band and with Faust all the band are playing at the highest level.
It's well orchestrated, Riccardo Toni not only the mastermind of the orchestrations, but also the keys and the guitars. He like the rest of the band of Alessio Monacelli (drums) and Daniele Morini (bass) is a virtuoso, the instrumental trio balancing the progressive and power metal influences well.
The little interludes link the shifts in the narrative as the vocals of Ivan Adami are gruff but carries melody well, when things get emotional and he also can growl when duetting with LaBrie and Patti. With the pace at which Stranger Vision seem to be releasing records, I wouldn't be surprised if Act 2 comes within a year but until then enjoy this if you're a fan of prog/power metal then Stranger Vision will be a band to seek out if you haven't already. 8/10
Impellitteri - War Machine (Frontiers Music s.r.l.)
Chris Imperllitteri has been shredding up a storm since the 1980's. He's one of those metal guitar players like Marty Friedman, Michael Angelo Batio or Paul Gilbert who is worshipped in Japan, where shred has never died.
The little interludes link the shifts in the narrative as the vocals of Ivan Adami are gruff but carries melody well, when things get emotional and he also can growl when duetting with LaBrie and Patti. With the pace at which Stranger Vision seem to be releasing records, I wouldn't be surprised if Act 2 comes within a year but until then enjoy this if you're a fan of prog/power metal then Stranger Vision will be a band to seek out if you haven't already. 8/10
Impellitteri - War Machine (Frontiers Music s.r.l.)
Chris Imperllitteri has been shredding up a storm since the 1980's. He's one of those metal guitar players like Marty Friedman, Michael Angelo Batio or Paul Gilbert who is worshipped in Japan, where shred has never died.
A few times he's been named one of fastest guitarist in the world so if you're a fan of hardcore guitar playing you'll have your jaw drop a few times on this record. His band features powerhouse vocalist Rob Rock, bassist James Pulli and on this album former Slayer drummer Paul Bostaph.
Of course with so many Strat wielding virtuoso's there's a huge inspiration from Ritchie Blackmore and Dio, this is extremely obvious on Out Of Mind (Heavy Metal) and Superkingdom, each of the songs coming from that classic heavy rock meets virtuoso guitar playing sound that also featured in bands such as Racer X or Dokken.
Of course with so many Strat wielding virtuoso's there's a huge inspiration from Ritchie Blackmore and Dio, this is extremely obvious on Out Of Mind (Heavy Metal) and Superkingdom, each of the songs coming from that classic heavy rock meets virtuoso guitar playing sound that also featured in bands such as Racer X or Dokken.
The latter can be heard on the neo-classical Superkingdom where James Pulli shows off his bass prowess. War Machine feels nastier than a fair few of the most recent Impellitteri records, maybe this is due to the machine gun assault of Bostaph on tracks such as Wrathchild, the thrashy Hell On Earth.
What Lies Beneath which reminds me of Mercyful Fate due to the lyrics and Rock's histrionic vocals, Gone Insane is bit more on the melodic side as Just Another Day ends the album with more shredding thrash. War Machine continues the high quality of Impelitteri releases, a shred veteran still delivering classic heavy metal. 8/10
Seventh Crystal - Entity (Frontiers Music s.r.l.)
Sweden's Seventh Crystal are classed as melodic rock but I'd say they're a bit more than that. There's the epic quality of Evergrey to tracks such as Path Of The Absurd, the low tuned guitars playing technical riffs as heavy piano chords hit in the background.
What Lies Beneath which reminds me of Mercyful Fate due to the lyrics and Rock's histrionic vocals, Gone Insane is bit more on the melodic side as Just Another Day ends the album with more shredding thrash. War Machine continues the high quality of Impelitteri releases, a shred veteran still delivering classic heavy metal. 8/10
Seventh Crystal - Entity (Frontiers Music s.r.l.)
Sweden's Seventh Crystal are classed as melodic rock but I'd say they're a bit more than that. There's the epic quality of Evergrey to tracks such as Path Of The Absurd, the low tuned guitars playing technical riffs as heavy piano chords hit in the background.
Entity is their third album and takes a conceptual turn with songs based around disinformation and mass media, this adds to the emotive darkness of the record, but the decision of whether is technology is good or bad is left up to the listener, but the journey you are taken on as a listener is driven by some of the most accomplished music Seventh Crystal have produced.
Since forming in 2019 Seventh Crystal have released two previous albums on Frontiers Music, but Entity feels like the band attempting to evolve in front of our eyes, or ears. Having already been a very guitar based band already here they are able to indulge in their heavier style due to now being without Johan Älvsång's keys. Even with the lighter, more melodic tracks such as Siren's Song, it's the guitars that play the role of shifting melodies.
Since forming in 2019 Seventh Crystal have released two previous albums on Frontiers Music, but Entity feels like the band attempting to evolve in front of our eyes, or ears. Having already been a very guitar based band already here they are able to indulge in their heavier style due to now being without Johan Älvsång's keys. Even with the lighter, more melodic tracks such as Siren's Song, it's the guitars that play the role of shifting melodies.
However there's still lots of electronics, on tracks such as Mayflower, which is partly why I compared them to Evergrey earlier, Kristian Fyhr's vocals too are part of this comparison. Slickness in their music, top level performances and a sound that is changing for the better. 8/10
No comments:
Post a Comment