Ad Infinitum - Chapter I: Monarchy

The Napalm Records power metal thing is fascinating to me. There is just so much good musicianship that goes into it and a lot of interesting ideas. It's not a scene that really clicked for me until I went to Summer Breeze last year but since then it has been something that I have been keeping an eye on. It's interesting! The debut from Ad Infinitum, Chapter 1: Monarchy is just the latest piece of this scene to catch my attention. The band has a distinct approach, excellent compositions and a clear vision towards the future.

I can't help but to be enamored with the bombast of this record. A track like 'Fire and Ice' is dramatic, interesting and more or less aware of how over the top it goes. Yet this isn't really one of those 'fun' symphonic metal bands - Ad Infinitum seem very focused on the more serious side of their music. They outline some truly exciting developments in the sound and the anthemic power of a track like 'Live Before You Die' is entrancing. It speaks to the bands songwriting ability and though they frequently lean into some of the tropes of the genre, they do it so well it's hard not to be at least a little enamored.

With the backing band cloaked in plague masks (How appropriate!) and a lead singer who commands the group with authority it's easy to fall into the sound that Ad Infinitum have crafted here. Their execution is top notch and deeply enjoyable. Meanwhile the flashy solos ad a nice bit of flavor showing the band are very aware of their roots. Ad Infinitum seem to be poised to only keep growing, but for now they are a fitting addition to the symphonic metal legion and will be dominating festival stages soon.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/AdInfinitumMusic/

Delain - Moonbathers

Delain are one of those bands who seem immortal. The have been going for a solid decade now and they have just put out their fifth full length. They've always had a trademark sound, but the sonic expansion that they have seem over their career has been, if not revolutionary, at least notable, and the music on Moonbathers shows them at their best. Symphonic metal is something that is easy to get really far into whilst simultaneously being comprehensible on the first listen and Moonbathers is proof that this process can be an extremely rewarding one.

Moonbathers is the sort of album that acts as a sort of tour de force for the veteran group. This is a band who have done a lot over their careers and the songs here sort of represent all that they habe accomplished up until this point. I particularly like their track Suckerpunch which has  sort of early 2000s power pop vibe and taps into my inner 13 year old. All that being said - as an overarching statement, Moonbathers is strong. There's a lot of exciting stuff to delve into here, and the arrangements are better than ever. Delain understand the bombast at the core of their sound and are building onto a greater whole.

I can't help but to love music like this. Music that has a rich understanding of self and hints at greater things to come. Moonbathers captures all that I've loved over the years about this band but also hints at greater things to come. A track like The Glory And The Scum perfectly exemplifies this. The music is rich and powerful, hinting at an inner darkness but also showing us that Delain are far from over. So come on in, enjoy the triumphant and soaring melodies and revel in the apocalyptic beauty that makes this band great.

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https://www.facebook.com/delainmusic/?fref=ts

Nemesea - Uprise

Napalm Records have been able to cultivate a potent reputation for themselves as the home to countless top notch female fronted symphonic metal bands. Uprise is clearly trying transcendent, the kind of album that speaks to the heart, but, as good as Uprise is the band hasn't quite hit the mark I think they were aiming for. That is not to say that Nemesea is over ambitious, merely that they are still evolving and becoming a part of something greater than themselves, using synth washed magic to capture the hearts of the masses.

There is a profound beauty to what Nemesea have managed to craft here. Uprise is strongest when it is at its most anthemic. The powerful wails on the album closer signify the climax of the album ,signifying all that this band is capable of and hinting at where they could potentially go. Nemesea have a clear sense of groove, and though the guitar tone could definitely be touched up the spiraling riffs that define this record are rather enjoyable. What really puts Uprise on the up and up as it were though is the use of synths. While often understated when they come on they just become all the more powerful.

So - I am sincere in my appreciation of Nemesea, the fundamental problem though is that the band is still growing. There fundamental concepts are strong, but the Evanescence worship needs to be toned down before they really step beyond. So while yeah - Evanescence is a great band, Nemesea have the potential to go beyond. The folks in this band are clearly very talented, listening to them evolve will be a pleasure. They know their strengths, let's hope they continue to build on them as they forward with Napalm!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/nemeseaofficial

Delain - Lunar Prelude

Delain have been an extremely busy band these past few years - and I'm not even really a symphonic metal fan. Their latest EP Lunar Prelude serves as a sort of opening course for their upcoming record. Now though they have just out one of those EP's that functions as an interesting taster of a little bit of everything that hte band has to offer. With a pair of new tracks, a re-imagining and then some live tracks Lunar Prelude stands for all that Delain have stood for over the years and hints at greater things to come.

First off let me just say that the new tracks are great - classic Delain and represent everything ta has made the band such a driving force over the years. My personal favorite, the debut, Suckerpunch is powerful and punchy with bouncy synths frolicking in the background and powerful choruses adding a nice touch of power metal to the mix. I was a little let down by the live tracks though - while yes, they were good, if you had told me they were just remixed album cuts I would have believed you - the audience noise wasn't quite there and they don't feel quite vibrant enough. Meanwhile - the reimagining was pretty tight and an interesting idea for a band with such a rich history.

Like I said - Lunar Prelude represents what makes Delain great. It is epic sounding, energetic and demonstrates the wealth of ideas that have defined Delain over the years. Sure they're not breaking a whole lot of ground, but that doesn't matter - they have built something great within pre-existing structures and have been able to craft an exciting, high energy sound that i think that few of their peers could ignore. Riffy and lighthearted, Lunar Prelude is going to whet your appetite for this bands bold future.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/delainmusic

Phantasma - The Deviant Hearts

Phatasma is something of a symphonic metal supergroup featuring members of Delain, Serenity and Everon. Based around musical duets and a Disney-esque musical sensibility The Deviant Hearts is a surprisingly fun listen full of lush musical soundscapes and powerful compositions. This is more than just a symphonic metal record - it pushes boundaries and creates a sense of utter beauty that is hard to deny. Devilishly addictive and guaranteed to pull at your heart strings - this is what symphonic metal was meant to be about.

That being said - as good as Phantasma are there are definitely a few wrinkles to be ironed out - there could be more work on the vocals and some of the song structures feel a little too over the top. Of course - in some ways that simply adds to the beauty of what the band does. These guys rarely feel obliged to acknowledge their metal roots, and while there certainly are powerful metal moments the band seems to want to focus more on the lush melodies and aural magic that makes the band so cool. The interplay between male and female is stunning - it gives the and a level of depth that very few of their peers could match.

Simply put - despite the few struggles that come from being a newer band Phantasma still manage to do some pretty special and fun stuff on The Deviant Hearts. Full of its own drama and featuring a powerful story (because of course this is a concept record) this is an album that hints at an incredile potential. Phantasma are ridiculously exciting and will leave you wondering what more is to come from a band who seemed destined to climb the power metal ladder and one day maybe even reign supreme.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/PhantasmaProject?fref=ts

Amberian Dawn - Innuendo

Amberian Dawn have always fascinated me as one of the best symphonic metal bands out there. While a lot of these white woman wailing bands leave me bored, these guys have always been able to prove themselves to be top notch musicians and songwriters. Now that the band has come to terms with their new singer Paivi Virkkunen they are back with their second record in as many years - proving that they may very well be on the verge of new life - ready to rise forth - better, and catchier, than ever before!

The point being Innuendo has all of the bombast that we have come to associate with this band. Toss in some potent vocal lines and even more impressive vocal acrobatics. The riffs are tight as ever and the neoclassical riffing is delicious. While Amberian Dawn certainly are very flashy that's a part of the appeal. The arrangements are perhaps their best yet on Innuendo, the epic soundscapes on tracks like Ladyhawk create a sense of musical depth that is far superior to anything the band has done previously and leaves me begging for more. The fact of the matter is that Amberian Dawn may very well be the new lords of symphonic metal.

Amberian Dawn have managed to crack the code of symphonic metal and create something that sounds epic but still has depth and is actually worth listening too. Whereas many imitators create mediocre fascsimiles Amberian Dawn are the real fucking deal. They've managed to drive a javelin into my jaded heart and prove to me for once and for all that symphonic metal is more than just a trend but actually a genre that can rise up and mean something to the greater metal canon. This is symphonic metal at its finest and should not be ignored.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/amberiandawn

Selene

There is a profound artistry to symphonic metal, and as much as jaded people like me like to poke fun at it, it's hard to deny that the folks in these bands are top notch musicians and songwriters. Selene get the inherent beauty that symphonic metal can have and guide their music ship wonderfully - rarely subdued but never over the top. Instead striking a nice and potent balance that is sure to attract all symphonic metal fans. The deeper you delve into what they do, the more you realize that Selene are the kind of metal band that the common man can get in too. They're epic, loud, but rarely alienating, instead drawing the whole world into their arms and guiding you forth with powerful choruses and a sense of rock and roll majesty that few of their peers can match. With every solo landing precisely on point and every harmony guiding the band ever further along it is impossible not to be charmed by Selene's sublime musical triumph.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/SeleneNI

Draconian - Sovran

Draconian is a surprisingly tastefully done doom/symphonic/death metal/whatever band who have rapidly managed to capture my heart with their epic dirges and powerful vocal melodies. With a nice mix of growls and female cleans alongside a terrifying organ sound there is something strangely satisfying about what the band do on their latest full length - the almighty Sovran. The deeper you delve int other bands distinctive sound the mire you realize hat these uys are top notch musicians and composers with a potent vision.

While yes - here and there moments of modern metal sneak in, the majority of the record is powerful and filled with deep emotions. From the initial trudge on the album opener Heavy Lies The Crown it is immediately clear that on Sovran Draconian have been able to pull together a truly powerful sound. The sense of artistry behind the music is perpetually palatable and helps to give a wonderful braininess to the entire record. Though a lot of these tracks skew long the epic themes the band has chosen to embrace make it seem appropriate and never leave the listener bored but instead stunned by the iconoclastic and refreshing presentation of the music.

The fact of the matter is that doom metal is a pretty fucking crowded scene right now and Draconian have found a simple way to twist it and make it exciting. When you find out the band has been around for 21 years it makes sense that their sound is so mature, no younger band could really invoke something this powerful. Diverse and refreshing Draconian's time has come to take up their role as one of the lords of a scene that God forgot. The only question now is can you take the madness onto your own shoulders?

Find them on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/draconianofficial

Xandria - Fire & Ashes

I've always had this weird special place in my heart for Xandria and I'm honestly not quite sure why. At the end of the day it's fairly easy to categorize them as just another "white woman wailing" symphonic metal band. But I get the impression that in fact there is something much deeper to Xandria's success that makes them all the more charming and engaging. There is something strangely visceral here, despite the layers of cheese and the over the top harmonies and triumphant synthesizers that couch the entire piece in layers of aural magic.

I think what gets me about Xandria is how they take every traditional element of symphonic power metal and do it so god damn well that it becomes impossible to deny their greatness. Xandria have a sense of sublime chaos behind them, and they channel this madness into epic and bombastic music that will leave a smile on your face. The quality of the production is incredible too and it helps to make things even more mesmerizing. The way the vocal lines seem to cascade into each other on tracks like Don't Say A Word is stunning. Toss in the bands high quality cover of I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That) and you start to see how this band has been able to channel traditional ideas into something greater.

Xandria fill a void in the listeners heart and give them a chance to escape from the day to day drudgery that plagues all of us who must suffer through the bleak life of modern times. Fire & Ashes only real perceivable drawback is that it's simply not long enough to fully immerse yourself in the soundscapes. Xandria are the kind of band who need to put out albums for the message to fully come across. That being said, Fire & Ashes will stand as another gem in the bands crown and will keep fans spinning it again and again!

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/xandriaofficial

Ethereal - Opus Aethereum

Ethereal are certainly that, their unique brand of vaguely gothic symphonic black metal is endlessly engaging and speaks to the bands ability to carry out soul crushing melodies on top of riffs that are simply to die for. Incredibly emotive and deepset in finding a foundation to its burden Opus Aethereum sees the band roaring to bold new heights with music that is grim and thought provoking. The kind of band who give a sense of dignity and power to the genre, Ethereal are not afraid to break the rules.

I think one of the things that really gets me about this band is their sheer sense of bombast, be it in the epic intro of Opus Aethereum's first track Nomicon or in the way the band presents themselves in corpse painted glory. Ethereal have been able to get a sense of their own mad indignities which see them driving force at ungodly extremes - addicted to speed and raw energy as much as they enjoy synthesizers. This sense of balance makes for music that leaves you on edge, at once dazzled by the fantastical frills but also in awe of the manic power that Opus Aethereum channels in its approximately forty minute run time.

Burbling into insanity Ethereal have been able to carve out a very specific and powerful niche for themselves in the black metal community. Impossible to deny their barking sense of annihilation will see you cackling madly to your grave. They take every element of the symphonic black metal genre to the extreme with epic symphonies and truly ungodly shrieks coming together to create some fascinating listening that will leave you coming back to kneel at the altar again and again, ever begging for more.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/EtherealDarknessUK?fref=ts

Sirenia - The Seventh Life Path

So, I'v never been into the whole gothic symphonic metal trip but I also haven't really given the genre a chance in a few years. Now that I've been presented with a new record from a band I never really listened too, Sirenia's The Seventh Life Path I see that things have come far since I was a long haired sixteen year old with a predilection for the occult. Now we find Sirenia crafting music epics that will capture the listeners imagination and carry them off on an epic and beautiful escapist journey into a finely constructed sound world that few could conceive.

As you delve into the magical sounds that Sirenia mastermind Morten Veland has crafted on this latest release it's hard to deny the all around mastery of the band. Sirenia have managed to hone a sound that is unique and yet also highly listenable. The goth rock fringes that provide flavor to a symphonic metal chassis are impressive. The thing is that Sirenia manage to convincingly add a sense of fun into some very serious epic music without making themselves seem silly. There is something transcendent about the wide open soundscapes that define tracks like Insania. Rather than relying on hooks (Not to say there aren't hooks) the pieces all seem to be building towards something greater which will ultimately grind the listener into the dirt.

Exploring this album is like falling into a strange fantasy world and exploring the cosmic triumph that it has to offer. Sirenia have created an all encompassing and charming work that can at once slam you into a wall and then suddenly blow your mind into a peaceful oblivion. The use of contradiction and pure poetry that defines this music is charming. It's easy to fall in love with what Sirenia do, and as I feel the waves of sound working their way into the twisted remnants of my mind I can't help but genuflect at the power within.

Find them on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/sirenia

Betoken - Beyond Redemption

Betoken is an interesting symphonic metal band from Italy. They feature an eight (!) person lineup and a sound that relies heavily on male vocals, yet with no growls. Already they're walking a couple lines that most of their peers might never touch on. Their is a certain sense of novelty, especially when a band has three full time vocalists like Betoken do. It leads to a layered sound with the ability to take on a distinctly different flavor for each verse. Their music is tightly polished and interesting to listen to, making Beyond Redemption a wonderful addition to the bands discography.

The inherently proggy elements of Betoken help to make them a little more interesting and create a serious musicians interest, but I think the band really gets going when they incorporate all three vocalists. They have a very distinct line up and when they use it to its full potential the band does some things I've never heard before. Any time that we are treated to a male/female duet I get goosebumps, it's a pity it doesn't happen more often. As is though, Betoken quickly prove their dominance as musicians and leave you begging for more. These guys have been at it for years and they really know how to craft a tight song to say the least.

When the songs really let the layers seep in and the vocal lines flourish, Betoken show that they are a truly special band. There is a lot of interesting stuff to dig in to here and this album is certainly worth a few listens. Betoken understand what symphonic is all about and their lush sounds will capture your imagination. Sure at times they seep into more traditional ideas, but as is, they've got so much cool stuff going on you can forgive a few slightly stagnant passages. A band with clear passion and dedication, Beyond Redemption has inspired me to check out the rest of this bands discography!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/betoken

Wind Rose - Wardens of the West Wind

Power metal has always been a hit or miss deal with me, in the sense that some of the bands' efforts to make epic compositions often work against themselves. This is especially the case if the production value of the recordings are unable to keep up with a bands' ambition. With the Italian Power Metal outfit Wind Rose and their sophomore album however, I am glad to say that these issues are nowhere to be found.
Having been joined by musician and producer Cristiano Bertocchi (Labyrinth) for bass duties, Wind Rose entered the studio to create an album that has little to envy from some of the genres' long-running heavyweights in terms of composition and production.

The band plays a form of symphonic power metal inspired by the likes of Gamma Ray and Blind Guardian, mixed with some folk metal elements that remind me of Ensiferum and Wintersun to some extent. The guitars mostly serve as a rhythm instrument that adds a heavy low end to the compositions, leaving the lead instrumental duties to the synths and orchestrations. We can appreciate the bands' focus on atmosphere and composition rather than flashy musicianship. There really isn't any instrument that sticks out in the songwriting, as every idea seems to have been perfectly integrated to serve the overall atmosphere and composition.  Every song has a nice progression that always pushes the compositions forward to keep things interesting. The vocal melodies handled by the very talented Francesco Cavalieri are supported by choir chants that further add to the catchiness and epic feel of the songs.

  

What we get from Wind Rose is a sophomore album that is well paced, well-orchestrated and superbly produced, an album. Wether you're a hardcore power metal aficionado or only an occasionnal listener of the genre like I am, this album is sure to strike a chord in the hearts of any heavy metal fan. Be sure to watch out for this band, as this release constitutes yet another reason to believe that we'll be hearing more from them in the future!

Be sure to check it out!

 

 

WIND ROSE 

Wardens Of The West Wind

Scarlet Records 
Release: 17 February 2015

Official Website
http://www.windroseofficial.com/index.html
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/windroseofficial
Scarlet Records
http://www.scarletrecords.it/

Ghost Brigade - IV - One With The Storm

Season of Mist have been putting out some truly beautiful releases lately and I like it! The latest in this triumphant series is the extremely intricate and magical IV - One With The Storm from Finnish masters, Ghost Brigade. This is a record that reeks of melancholy and has a wonderful sense of despair that I think proves how far the band have come. This album touches the heart with its mournful guitar lines, powerful vocals, and songwriting that is simply to die for. One With The Storm is Ghost Brigades best record yet.

I think ultimately what makes One With The Storm so special is that beyond the sadness and heart wrenching despair that defines the record there seems to be a message of hope. The album closer Elama On Tulta is the perfect example of this with hints at a major key progression seeping through and showing us that Ghost Brigade want us to see the light beyond the incredible incurable sadness that seems to define so much of their music. One With The Storm is a deeply satisfying record because it plumbs the darkest part of the psyche and then comes out making you feel better, and ultimately, more alive.

These songs are masterpieces of modern metal songwriting and anyone who has any connection with heavy music will be able to find something within it that resonates with them. Ghost Brigade have lon been a truly special band and I think that this record simply confirms their greatness. This is definitive proof that these guys belong in the pantheon of metal gods, and they are slowly climbing the ladder to get their. One With The Storm is the kind of record that will blow your mind, so go out and get listening!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/ghostbrigade

Liv Kristine - Vervain

Earlier this year I fell head over heels in love with Kari Rueslatten's magnificent Time To Tell I think now I have finally found a record that is not only on par with that masterwork but also brings in a metal side. Liv Kristine's new effort Vervain is a record that captures the imagination with soaring aria's, top notch songwriting, and a mix of male and female vocals that is wonderfully memorable. Vervain is the sort of record that you know will be special from the first song. This is artsy heavy metal at its finest and I don't want to stop listening to it!

I think the mix of delicate female vocals and powerful guitar parts is perfectly executed here. Whereas normally this sort of thing feels forced and contrived, Kristine manages to pull it off perfectly within the confines of her work. Songs like the eponymous track Vervain are driving without sounding pretentious making her record rather fun to listen too. The ooh ooh's and aah aah's that accent a lot of the songs also come across very nicely, adding to the majesty of the soudnscape and keeping things intricate and exciting. At the end of the day Liv Kristine has a simply beautiful voice and that's what keeps me coming back time and time again

Make no mistake Vervain is a masterpiece, and the fact that I normally despise female fronted symphonic metal and yet adore this record is evidence as to how tight Liv Kristine is. These are songs that wash over you and enhance the spirit. Kristine understands what we want out of symphonic metal and she deliver it with a profound skill that I think few of her peers could even dream of matching. Let these songs consume you, here is a woman who has done something incredibly special and along with her band are worthy of much honor and praise.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/LivKristineOfficial

Amberian Dawn-Magic Forest

In my symphonic metal phase back in those heady days of ninth grade I had thought Amberian Dawn were essentially a better version of Nightwish. Now I sit here with their new record Magic Forest in my inbox and I'm left to wonder what I've done to get here. This is a symphonic metal record that gets it. The songs aren't long or obnoxious, and while they do have a white woman wailing, its tastefully done. Amberian Dawn understand how to put in musical pulses, shifts and changes, pure symphonic artistry that any ear can enjoy, why, even my mother was impressed when she heard this record roaring out of my laptops speakers.

There is a very impressive depth to the sound here. As on all of the bands records it's been proven yet again that these guys know how to compose great pieces. Note that word compose, Amberian Dawn is more than a group of songwriters, their tracks are layered and intricate. Interesting and engaging symphonic metal that leaves you asking questions beyond, do you think I have a shot with the singer? The shreddy guitar fills are also really fun, and certainly something you don't see enough of in metal these days. It certainly makes for a more interesting spin on things than a keyboard flourish or a drum fill. Amberian Dawn have mastered what it means to be a symphonic metal band and their star is only rising.

So turn on this record and fall into the beauteous voice of a lead singer who is more than a sex symbol. The way her voice trumpets over top of some of the coolest arrangements I have heard in symphonic metal in a good long while, it's simply transcendent. What more could you ask for from a band in such an overcrowded genre. Not only do they sound different, they have a level of fun, and passion behind them that sets them apart from legions of Epica and Nightwish hanger-ons. This is what this much maligned genre is all about, and if you don't get that, leave the hall.

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/amberiandawn

Meadows End-The Sufferwell

I haven't had some good symphonic death metal to review lately, it seems like the genre is going out of style. Meadows End seem determined to fight that though, bringing forth ungodly riffs and inhuman vocals on top of a rich orchestral palate provided by the bands talented keyboardist. Filled with wonderful grooves and a chunky bottom end, the bands new record The Sufferwell not only will smash in your face, it will leave you feeling broken and terrified, a thrall to the latent darkness of the world that surrounds us. In other words, this record gets the job done.

I think a large part of the appeal of The Sufferwell is the way that the band embraces the sheer bombast of their art form. Be it in the epic guitar lines found right off the bat with songs like Kings of Greed, or in the thrilling piano accompaniment that dominates the record, Meadows End take the listener on an adventure. Crashing over the waves on a boat made of steel has never been so fun. Meadows End may not be a power metal or viking metal band, but you often get the same vibe from the music, encouraging you to headbang and bring the mosh across the globe. At the end of the day, The Sufferwell does an incredible job of fusing melody with pure riffs, and this allows Meadows End to stand above their peers.

As I dig deeper into this record, for The Sufferwell is certainly not the kind of thing you 'get' on one listen, I start to get a sense for the enormous passion behind the music. No one has really done anything like Meadows End are doing before. Sure, comparisons can be made to groups like Septicflesh and their ilk, but if you really listen to it, Meadows End take it to a different level. So come over and dig in to the beautiful musical depth of a band who are writing their own rules and discovering their own brave new world, I think you're going to love it!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/meadowsend

The Hourglass-Through Darkness And Light

Female fronted symphonic metal from Romania. But wait! Don't turn away just yet, there is more to be said! The Hourglass, while they do certainly respect the maxims of the genre, also bring in some cool new ideas to keep things fresh. Their heavy use of synthesizer and the fluttering voice of their goddess of a frontwoman makes their new record Through Darkness And Light a veritable testament to the power of female fronted metal. Unafraid to mix in prog elements and unique song structures, The Hourglass have a mind expanding sound that is not to be taken lightly.

I think part of what makes The Hourglass so engaging is that they really understand the sheer bombast that should go into making this type of music. On top of that, the bottom end is among the heaviest I have heard in symphonic metal. Tracks like Abandoned feature a huge crunch that pounds on the listeners bones and leaves me in thrall to music that is too beautiful to want to escape. As I mentioned previously, the synth lines are a special highlight, they add a very 70s prog feel and it nicely contrasts more delicate piano lines. Simply put, it makes the sound more expansive and engaging.

So fall into the beautiful rabbit hole that The Hourglass have crafted with Through Darkness and Light. Sometimes crystalline, other times made of steel, this is a record whose soundscapes are diverse and engaging. As you make your way through these 11 tracks its easy to understand why these guys already have more than 12,000 Facebook fans. There are lots of bands in a similar vein to these Romanians, yet none have the crazed dedication along with such a poignant and unique sound. Feel the grooves, embrace the melodies, and open your heart.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/TheHourglassRomania

Materdea-A Rose for Egeria

Female fronted folk metal band with both keyboards and a violin. Well then,. we're already off to a great start! The songs on A Rose for Egeria are often epic and very beautiful. The bands vocalist has a beautiful and rather thin voice and the interplay between the caressing female lines and some of the groovier guitar riffs is very well done. It's not overplayed, so when it does get used it adds flavor rather than coming off as a dull and overused gimmick. A Rose of Egeria is eleven tracks of well written and properly thought out symphonic folk metal, the kind of thing that restores my faith in the genre.

Part of the appeal of Materdea for me is the way that they manage to craft some really excellent melodic lines, seemingly out of thin air. For example, their is no real precedent for the introductory keyboard line in An Unexpected Guest but it is immediately recognizable and extremely memorable. There are also some very weird and strangely fascinating moments. Perhaps the most bizarre is Land Of Wonder which features the voice of a fairy, strange, but well developed. Materdea bill themselves as Elvish Metal and given the rather otherworldly magical feel of these songs, I can't think of a better label.

So Materdea have managed to rise up, masters of a genre that has often been called overcrowded. Their unique niche is one that many bands have tried to work their ways into, but none have succeeded. These Italians are only going up, they are one of the most exciting pagan metal acts on the scene. With over 5,700 facebook likes already they are clearly pretty huge on their local circuit. As their songwriting gets even better (How they could do that I'm not sure) I am sure they could very easily become a massive internationally touring name.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/MaterDea

Kalidia-Lies' Device

Kalidia are a rather distinct female fronted power metal band. Rather than going the common Nightwish route they actually have a much more Midnattsol type feel, placing a special emphasis on epic and melodic folk metal passages that prove the might of a band destined to breathe new life into what is very much a dull and stagnant scene. There are poignant grooves here and Kalidia have a great understanding not just of riffs but also where they stand in the scene, this gives them a very clear vibe that will do them good in the future as pioneering folk metal masters.

Part of what appeals to me so much about Kalidia is their use of bombastic keyboards in songs like Reign of Kalidia. It gives the band a very epic metal  style feel to them that certainly appeals to a jaded old Ensiferum fan like me. The vocal lines are really well done, I especially like the layered approach in tracks such as Hiding from the Sun, it really helps to keep things fun and engaging, adding a touch of pop into the attack. The guitar parts are excellent, not only are the riffs punchy, the solos are remarkably well executed. It gives a great rock and roll element to Lies' Device further broadening the appeal of what can essentially be described as a folk metal band.

So open your ears and heart, this is the sort of power metal the world needs more of, stuff from bands who can hold their own musically and really understand what they are trying to do. Kalidia have a distinct feel and this is going to let them capture the hearts of thousands. This is not a band to be trifled with, their is a real depth to the sound on Lies' Device proving the group are ready to come out and take over the world. If you want a refreshing touch of folk derived power metal then this is the band for you, a group who understand the genre and could very well save our souls.

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/KalidiaBand