Thursday 23 August 2012

Heavy Metal Album Review : Luca Turilli's Rhapsody - Ascending to Infinity

Luca Turilli's Rhapsody - Ascending to Infinity
Nuclear Blast
Rating: 7/10

After 15  years of being part of Rhapsody of Fire, Luca Turilli and Alex Staropoli amicably decided to part ways to move in different directions artistically. Due to the immense contributions both had made to Rhapsody of Fire both Luca and Alex are continuing the word of their former band but on different branches, with Alex retaining the original name and Luca now using Luca Turilli's Rhapsody in order to release Ascending to Infinity.

The album is a strong power metal record produced by Luca himself and Christoph Stickel, with the end result being an excellently produced and beautifully arranged album. Power metal records can at times sound like one track broken into many parts, but little twists and subtle differences throughout this record prevent it becoming tired as the tracks progress. Alessandro Conti's lead vocals have such strength and range that when lent support by the choir produce a barrage of vocals that both compliment the underlying music and add strength to it.

"Quantum X" and the tribal beat that underscores it, opens the album. While a good track it is not as strong start as the album arguably deserves. Hot on it's heels "Ascending to Infinity" lifts the album up with faster paced percussion and more prominent guitars.

The next two tracks "Dante's Inferno" and "Excalibur" are my favourite two tracks on this album. "Dante's Inferno" starts with a slow, tension building lead up before launching into great guitar riffs and solos. "Excalibur" has stronger vocals with the lead and chorus building up to crescendos regularly through the track, creating what can only be described as an epic vocal sound. This track also has some good guitar riffs and solos but perhaps not as good as those on "Dante's Inferno".

The remaining tracks continue in the vein of the largess of the vocals and guitar riffs shining through from the music underneath while managing to add their own variations. "Tormento E Passione" is the first track the keyboards take more prominence and the contrast of male and female vocals works really well. "Dark Fate of Atlantis" has a much more eastern and oriental feel to it, "Clash of the Titans" has musical parts that almost sound like battle scenes and the closing track, at almost sixteen minutes in length, is an onslaught of sounds from eerie atmospheric music, to keyboard sounds and sinister spoken words.

"Luna" is really the only disappointment to me on the album, the soft female voice that starts the track rings clear, however the overall sound of the track is more something that you would expect to hear in the background, for example in an advert. This is a shame as the remainder of the album really draws you into the music and holds its own in the foreground. The track does build to a stronger sound but leaves you with the feeling it never quite got there.

"Luna" aside Ascending to Infinity is an excellent album for fans of Rhapsody of Fire, Therion and perhaps to a lesser extent Blind Guardian and some of Devin Townsend's more experimental work will really enjoy this album. The only thing that leaves this album short of higher accolades is the disappointment in "Luna" and despite the grandiose sounds and sheer depth of musical layering it would be nice to see something a bit more ground breaking coming out of this genre.

Monday 20 August 2012

Heavy Metal New Blood EP Review - Bleeding - Bleeding EP

Bleeding - Bleeding EP
Rating 7/10
Words By Jack King

When the buzzword "Djent" inevitably dies out and the world is full of heavy tech metal style bands, the prog-metal world will cry out for something atmospheric and creative once more. That's when Bleeding can capitalise. Bleeding are a "metal project" from Germany who ooze of progressive metal and experimentalism.

We see the ambience that Bleeding create instantly with an odd electric beginning to the opening track "Tempest Of Colours", this digital intro quickly turns into a heavy thrash style riff that would make a Slayer fan smile. Haye Graf's vocals sound as operatic as Devin Townsend but at times can become strained like Joey Belladona's, they can sound awkward and out of place detracting from the atmosphere. The song writing is great and clever, with a sneaky "Master of Puppets" reference.

"Voices" the second track on the EP has the same electronic and ambient elements. In this song the guitarists show of their talent more so than the first track, however, the solos can seem forgettable compared to the monstrous riffs on the EP.

The title track "Bleeding" comes in third on the album with a slower pace adding tension to the atmosphere and shows  a beautiful guitar tone playing the best riff on the EP. This slower track leads into the fast and brilliant "Soul Dancer".

Bleeding do a lot of things right; they create an atmosphere and operatic feel with their music, and producing an album to sound huge. Songs like "Souldancer" genuinely feel like they come from a blockbuster soundtrack. The one detraction from this atmosphere can be the vocals, although in "Souldancer" there is so much going on and so much to pay attention to that the vocals are less distracting.

This EP will provide a lot of enjoyment for those who liked Opeth's last album. Bleeding are definitely one to watch for the progressive metal junkies.

Track Listing:
1. Tempest Of Colours
2. Voices
3. Bleeding
4. Souldancer

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