Metal Reviews

The following was intended to be an email to MetalNESS, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to place it where all of you can view it....

Basically, this is a follow-up to my Infinity 'Son of infinite' review.... recommendations for those who like Italian power metal, specifically bands in the style of Infinity. All of these are somewhat similar to Infinity, unless noted otherwise.

Both the 'Grade A' and 'Grade B' lists are recommended, but I only recommend getting into the 'Grade B' list if you're well into and loving the 'Grade A' list. This is not intended to be a debate (Grade 'A' vs. Grade 'B'), but if you feel I've completely missed an Italian power metal band, or strongly feel a 'Grade B' band should be in the 'Grade A' list (or vice-verca).... certainly voice your opinion.
Note: Because of their popularity (and because this is mainly recommendations for bands similar to Infinity)... Rhapsody, Skylark and Thy Majestie are not included.

Also, know that all of these are listed over at Metal CD Ratings and some even have full reviews written. If you want to know exactly which CDs of these bands I consider to be the best, simply head over there.

Here we go....

GRADE A:
Dark Horizon (a bit more in the symphonic realm... a la Kaledon)
Desdemona
Final Chapter (actually from Germany and more in the symphonic realm, but worth mentioning because of quality... Skylark meets Thy Majestie perhaps)
Highlord
Holy Knights (more in the symphonic realm, but worth mentioning because of quality... Skylark meets Thy Majestie perhaps)
Labyrinth
Projecto
Secret Sphere
Shadows of Steel
Sigma
Soulblaze
Vision Divine
Wonderland

GRADE B:
Ahrcana
Alkemyst
Arachnes
Arthemis
Athlantis
Bride Adorned (actually from Finland, but very much in the Italian symphonic power metal realm and worth mentioning)
Concept
Darkfire
DGM
Dragonhammer (a bit more in the symphonic realm... a la Kaledon)
Gutter Sirens (actually from Poland, but very much in the Italian style)
Heavenblast
Heraldry
Kaledon (a bit more in the symphonic realm)
Landguard (a bit more in the symphonic realm... a la Skylark)
Metatrone
Morgana
Odyssea
Oracle Sun
Pandaemonium (a bit more in the symphonic realm)
Perpetual Fire
Seven Gates
Shining Fury
Synthphonia Suprema (tons of synths anyone?)
Timestorm
Unicorn

... there you go.

Clint

NP: Infinity - Son of infinite
Full review: http://www.angelfire.com/music5/metalcd ... EVIEW.html

That is a lot of italian power metal, lol. I can't imagine what patience is required to go through all those bands. From my experience most italian power metal is average - in sound, production, vocals etc. Only a few really stand out of the crowd. I guess italians really love that style of metal because of the huge numbers of soundalike bands they are spewing every year.

Here's what I know:

Desdemona - I've heard just 1 song from this band - Summon My Name i think it was called. I remember downloading it from some italian label with a bunch of other songs. That was the only one I liked though. Sounded like Highlord (same vocalist too i think) with average production (very italian-like) and nice and catchy chorus. Good song overall but I never bothered to check a full album.

Highlord - This band was making a steady rise in album quality which led to the release of their best album Medusa's Coil. To bad the album after it sucked. Still, their sound is to typical to leave a lasting mark on the scene. They have a good singer which is a plus.

Secret Sphere - My personal fav. italian band. Heart & Anger is fan-fucking-tastic album. Signing with Nuclear Blast was the best thing they could do. Well i'm not exactly sure if that brought anything positive for the band, but it's a fact that their debut for the label moved them away from the sound that was so common for most young italian power metal bands.

Vision Divine - I've heard only their last album which was ok. At least I think it was ok. God Is Dead is the only song i can remember. I need to refresh my memory about these guys. Anything else of them worth checking out ?

Alkemyst - Couldn't say anything good about that band. I checked their album only because Roberto Messina(Secret Sphere) was singing for them. I'll probably try the new album when it's out.

Bride Adorned - These guys are finns. They have the dude that sings on TOC's Loss Angeles(great album btw). Rhapsody and Thy Majestie are close comparisons so probably that's why you included them. Like you said it's worth mentioning. Their approach to symphonic metal is slightly different than Rhapsody though - lots of progressive parts, a bit messy and confusing like they were trying to much to do something original.

DGM - Talanted musicians no doubt. I know only Hidden Place and Misplaced. The former is an excelent piece of progressive metal, the latter was rather dissapointing, bordering on power metal with a good dose of speed and short songs, which at least kept it interesting. Heard of new album coming out this year.

Odyssea - Electronic power metal is a rare thing so Tears In Floods was an original album when it came out in 2004. I still listen this from time to time. Even if it has the typical italian sound the band overcome this with good songwriting and talented singer. Too bad they dropped from the face of the earth. I can't find any new info on them. This is highly recommended.

And I know I haven't heard any Labyrinth. I plan on correcting that mistake soon so don't remind me.

This will keep me busy for a while. I'm not so much for the symphonic stuff though. Rhapsody is about all I can take.

Btw Labyrinth owns the planet.

Iv'e only heard a handfull of those bands, the rest i've never even heard of! Out the ones i know Arthemis is the one i like most, but Dragonhammer are ok to i guess. Dies Ire might be worth checking out, its folky, progy, symphonic shit. I don't think they're put out a full length yet, wish they would, their demo Legend Of Nhor is pretty dam good.

O_O I have neither the time nor the financial resources to appreciate this.

Just remember guys.... start with the 'Grade A' bands. Unless you've had these bands for a long while and are totally digging them, don't even touch the 'Grade B' list.
Also, notice that the 'Grade A' list is quite short... so I definitely recommend giving those bands a shot.

Personally, I've always considered the music style of Infinity (and the recommendations) to be in between the Brazilian power metal style of bands like Angra and the Scandinavian power metal style of bands like Sonata Arctica.

Finally, if you need any specific help, just email me. I'm always more than happy to help out fellow power metallers.

Clint

NP: Secret Sphere - Heart & anger

How come Domine isn't on the list? I've only listened to their latest album (which bored the hell out of me) but I'd thought they were better known, having released 5 albums in the past 10 years.

I left Domine, Drakkar and Heimdall (all solid bands) off the list, as I don't think they're in the style of the rest of the bands on the list.

Clint

I just randonly grabbed bands from both lists, and Odyssea fucking owns! It has the lead singer of Labyrinth on the first track, but after that it's some other dude who is still pretty good. And the guitar solos make my head explode. SWEEPS!

Odyssea kick ass but it seems they're no longer active. I'd kill to hear another album from these guys. The only song where i've heard Rob Tyrant singing is Fly and at first I couldn't tell it's 2 different singers. The art cover slays too.

You should hear Secret Sphere next, especially their last album. It have everything you could want from a power metal album and I bet you'll like it. If you don't you'll be the first.

Oracle Sun is A material. The ST is a brilliant powermetal cd.

Secret Sphere's A Time Never Come is quite possibly the greatest Italian powermetal CD.

You left out some of the greats! In my oppinion the best power metal record to come out of Italy was "Like a Hurricane" by Rex Inferi, great album by a great band! Then there's bands like White Skull (their second album was great), Adramelch (more epic than power but still great, perhaps the greatest italian band of all time) and many others.

I always prefered the darker side of Italian power metal, or I find their prog/power output a bit too "smurfy" for my taste...

I've never heard of Rex Inferi, but will check em' out.
I left out White Skull because I don't have them.... the vocals have always GREATLY turned me off. Musically, they're somewhat in line with the big list of bands though.
Adramelch isn't exactly the style I was attempting to recommend, but sure, they're close and could certainly be mentioned.

Yes, it's the "smurphy" Italian prog/power I'm attemting to recommend here (not the darker side). In fact, I watch 'The Smurfs' daily with my two young daughters.

Clint

^lol

Who doesn't smurfs are cult! Except for that gay guy with the flower on the hat, brrrr.....

Man, how did I pass up on Secret Sphere? These guys are awesome. They remind me a lot of Labyrinth, but with a little less progression and slightly catchier choruses. Actually Rob Tyrant sings on one of the songs.

You mean Vanity Smurf? I don't think he's gay... I heard he *smurfed* Smurfette one night after getting plastered on smurf berries.

Yeah, you're starting to see why I recommended this style to you and the rest.
Make sure you've checked out the Soulblaze 's/t' debut and the latest Shadows of Steel 'Second floor'. Both are awesome and have a lot of speed...

... I've always loved Sigma and Wonderland too, but I don't think those bands (especially Wonderland) are for everyone.

Clint

Oh my fuck.... Shadows of Steel... is... .... this is some of the best power metal I've heard in a looooooong time. This is Strato mixed with awesome, catchy, and more awesome! I also get a Labyrinth feel (spacy keys). Thank you Clint.

You're welcome.

Soulblaze is just as good (same singer as Shadows of Steel!), but I believe there are little to no keys on their 's/t' debut.

Clint