This is the second album from Greek progressive power metallers Sunburst.
Across 49 minutes Sunburst impress with their cinematic take on progressive metal. Manifesto comes from the point of view of progressive power metal, (think Kamelot, Cloudscape, Threshold, and Pagan’s Mind), but also contains minor touches of a more contemporary perspective, one that primarily manifests in some of the riffs and drums. It’s not strong, but it’s there in places. Apart from this, Manifesto is pure 00s progressive power metal worship. Continue reading “Sunburst – Manifesto (Review)”
This is the third album from Swiss/Italian progressive metal band Virtual Symmetry.
Virtual Symmetry play progressive metal, and on their self-titled new album they give us 63 minutes of professionally crafted material. Also, you’ve got to love it when a band opens their album with a 20-minute epic. Spoiler alert – it’s a very good track indeed. Continue reading “Virtual Symmetry – Virtual Symmetry (Review)”
NVC are a Canadian progressive metal band and this is their debut album.
This is modern and emotive progressive metal that marries some latter-day Anathema influences with a melodic death metal side; think Ensiferum and Wintersun for a starting point. The resulting Continue reading “NVC – The Deleted Scenes (Review)”
Sifting are a progressive metal band from the Venezuela and based in the US. This is their debut album.
Combining modern groove and classic rock with progressive flavour, this is an enjoyable album that manages to stitch together several different rock and metal eras and styles, and is largely quite successful at doing so. Continue reading “Sifting – Not from Here (Review)”
This is the eleventh album from UK progressive metallers Threshold.
Well, Threshold have certainly been busy. Their latest album is quite the progressive monster – a double album lasting 82 minutes; you certainly get your value for money with this one. Continue reading “Threshold – Legends of the Shires (Review)”
Esotherisst are a Progressive Metal band from Poland. This is their début release.
Esotherisst’s Progressive Metal is polished and has a modern sound and production.
You Have Never is the first song. It’s the shortest of the three and it has a kind of Threshold-style, although this is mainly in the music rather than the vocals. The guitars are rhythmic and solid, with the leads and melodies used to add colour to this strong base. The singer has a good voice; it’s relatively low in the mix and used in an understated way throughout.
The second song is How to Fly and this is the longest track here at 6 minutes in length. This has more of an epic feel than the first one, with stronger keyboard backing and reminds me of Kamelot in some ways, although a more restrained, Progressive version and still tinged with a Threshold feel. Frenetic guitars and hyperactive keyboards are the centrepieces of this track and really drive home the Progressive tendencies of the band, like the 70s have been dragged into the modern day. This is bookended by lighter, more relaxed sections where the singer really comes into his own.
The final song is In Winter’s Arms. This continues the feel of the second track with an epic introduction and then a lighter verse, (although without the extended Progressive workout in the middle that the second song boasted). This is a theme developed throughout the 5 minutes playing time, ending on a softer note to finish.
The weakest link for me in this is the singer, although that sounds worse than it is. It’s not that he has a bad voice, quite the contrary in fact; I just feel he is slightly lacking in confidence and needs to develop a little more presence and force in his delivery. This is not insurmountable though and he has the necessary attributes for success, they just need to be brought to the fore a bit more. This is only a minor quibble though, and might actually be less about the singer himself and more due to the recording – the music has such a strong production that he can sometimes sound overshadowed.
Overall, Esotherisst have impressed me with this release. With a few tweaks to the songwriting and vocal delivery their début album should be an extremely strong release if this is any indicator.
Winter Calling are a Progressive Rock band from the US. This is their début album.
Winter Calling play polished and professional Progressive Rock that sounds perfectly modern in many ways but realistically has probably missed its era; I can easily imagine this band selling out huge arenas in the past.
Stylistically, the closest reference point is probably Threshold meets Evergrey.
The songs are well-written with plenty of hooks, catchiness and memorable choruses. The singer has an excellent voice that sometimes has a slight grainy quality to it on occasion, lending it an earthy quality that feels natural and unforced; other times it’s as soft as silk.
There’s a confidence and assurance to these songs. It stops just short of cockiness, but the band certainly know what they’re doing and are not shy of showing it off. Not that they should be, of course. Progressive Rock is not a style known for its shyness, and Winter Calling have enough talent and skill to be justified in their obvious self-belief.
The songs that span this hour of music, (including an Iron Maiden cover, or rather a reinterpretation), are all expertly played and benefit from not just the normal core instruments but also keyboards that add a plethora of little touches and extra levels to the already full music.
The album feels like it’s taking you on a journey, although you never get to quite find out where as the journey is what’s important, not the destination. I find that the best albums feel like this and I’m looking forward to exploring this release even more over the next few years.
Mature and emotive, this is an album that’s worth spending some time with.
This is the second album from Greek progressive power metallers Sunburst.
Wonderbox Metal 