Wow this is ingenious, extremely well performed and heavy as fuck. This was more or less my first impression of
Labyrinth's self titled fourth album.
Even though I love Power Metal I must admit that alteration or renewal isn't words that goes very well with it when judging the scene in general. This is not necessary something bad, it is a very fragile balance, on one hand the music should not be too experimenting so that it losses some of its charm, on the other hand it can become a bit too much the same old story, especially if the musical quality is lacking a bit too. Rest assured,
Labyrinth has found what I think is a genius and refreshing combination of these elements, and this album demonstrates this firmly.
Labyrinth has before showed how to make innovative and very original Power Metal, ex. their fantastic Return To Heaven Denied album, this time the limit is pushed just a bit further, being just a little more progressive in profile.
Speed has always been a
Labyrinth trademark and supporters of this lovely word will not be let down, once again the fast profile is upheld in most songs.
The Prophet starts of with a cool progressive beginning and before long the tempo is lifted several points. Roberto Tiranti displays a stunning vocal deliverance through all 10 songs, great melody and appetite for variation like in this opening song.
Technical and fast guitar/keyboard splitting solos and an intense underlying rhythm make a great start to this labyrinth of thrilling roads.
The next song
Livin' In A Maze starts in a more direct manner, but be not fooled, once again as the song develops things start to blossom. Quiet passages, hymn-like leads, accelerating rhythm changes, an innovative computerized keyboard solo, an acoustic/piano mixed mid-section etc. You could easily think that it runs in at around 10 minutes with all these elements, but it in fact only last for 4:37. This is indeed challenging music.
This World is more mid-tempo in character with its hard groove and tight bass work delivered by Cristiano Bertocchi. I love the songs highly progressive mid-section passages with experimental twists, but in all fairness the chorus could have been just a bit more exciting and melodic.
In
Just Soldier (Stay Down) we find one of the albums most genius songs. A grand firework of aggressiveness and progressiveness mixed with melodic passages.
I'm totally impressed with the drumming in this song, all these great details combined with a double-bass tempo that is exceptional high. This is clearly one of the heaviest songs I have ever heard; the fast guitar riffing just breathes power and musical intensity.
The album's two ballads are not only fantastic songs with great bombastic elements; it is also here we find some of the most experimenting and innovative aspects throughout the record.
Neverending Rest mixes a soft piano melody with raw rhythm guitar riffs. Great sensitive vocals, a catchy guitar solo and a strange (in the good meaning) and brilliant underlying keyboard atmosphere are other highlights. A fantastic ballad with progressive elements and a reassuring feeling to it.
The computer/keyboard programming unfolds with great force in
When I Will Fly Far; nicely mixed by more traditional keyboard sounds, creating an enchanting atmosphere that is far from anything I have ever head before. The song contains a great elevating and positive vibe and the acoustic guitar rhythm and stunning vocals just adds to the impression of one of the coolest ballads in my book.
Mastermind Andrea De Paoli incorporates
Terzinato with exiting keyboard arrangements and Mattia Stancioiu displays technical drumming with many details. A song with a great forceful chorus delivered with much speed. The only critical point I have about this one is that the slower rhythm of the song appears quite tame and not with the same bite as for the rest of the record, great song nevertheless.
Slave To The Night starts with a mesmerizing guitar lead/keyboard passages and a melodic vibe more or less continues through the songs duration. Once again a combined acoustic guitar piano passages is worked into the song with great sense for a dynamic flow, and of course we find the alternative keyboard luring in the background.
The beginning to
Synthetic Paradise is very strange and computer-like, but when the song gets going with great speed its like the odd intro makes a little more sense. A very dominant symphonic gleam seems to cover a lot of this one, also containing a huge chorus.
Hand In Hand features fantastic melodic vocals and the well-written metaphorical romantic lyric is brilliantly executed. The thrilling guitar solo from Andrea Cantarelli fits in splendidly and the change between calmer and harder parts unfolds genially, another outstanding creation.
Each track offers something special and even though I have my favourites they all lie within the broad-ranging word fantastic, a special thing being that when listening close to every song many underlying details suddenly appear. The lyrics have a tendency to be a bit short but nevertheless quite interesting and rather good, having a critical approach towards war and the lack of respect for life in general, but the album also touches upon very personal aspect as the positive carpe diem way of living.
On the performing level I'm very impressed, as you already have noticed, every band member puts into this disc a performance that ranks as brilliant.
Before I lose my sense of critical judgment I must halt and ask myself if there is anything that works in the opposite direction of this extremely positive review until now :).
After spending a lot of time thinking about this question I'm still having a very hard time coming up with anything but those minor aspect already mentioned in the description of the songs, so I'll stop searching for them and just enjoy this refreshing creation.
I know that this doesn't count as something negative as all songs are great, but I would have found it very interesting to hear them endeavour in a longer and even more progressive track, will I ever stop having such fantasies? :).
The sound is extremely clear and yet still packed with great depth and a cool pinch of rawness. A special and experimenting production which of course to some degree follows suit with the use of computerized and innovative keyboard arrangements. Ingenious sounds for innovative music.
This release presents Power Metal performed with high musical and melodic skill, with flair for a special unbound heaviness spiced with an imaginativeness that elevates to a unique and captivating dimension.
Written by
Tommy Monday, November 3, 2003
Show all reviews by TommyRatingsTommy: 9/10Members: No members have rated this album yet.
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