It's been 7 years since the French of 'Kerion' released an album, ' CloudRiders, Part II: Technowars' dating from 2015. In line with previous albums, they continue their futuristic saga 'Couldriders' in a power metal integrating different ingredients including electronic sounds and this time, we are going to the world cyborgs with guests 'Elisa Martin' (ex 'Dark More'), 'Raphael Dantas' who was the singer of the rather crazy metal opera of 'Rémi Carrairou', 'Gates of Paris', released in 2018, and 'Vitor Veiga' from Aquarius' whose last album 'Alethea' is from 2020.
We are therefore embarked on this science fiction story punctuated by short recitatives which sets the scene, and, at the outset, the cinematographic instrumental 'Theme Riders (Age of Cyborgs)' shows a melancholic symphonic face which continues with choirs accompanied by a narration presenting the theme of the album. And off we go with the energetic and catchy 'Nova Prime' which develops a memorable first melody with a chorus punctuated by lively choirs and which highlights, here and there, electronic sounds, then, after the first recitative 'The Mission', continues with a no less catchy 'Red Square' in the same spirit as 'Nova Prime'. With 'One Way Love', a change of scenery with a much more moderate atmosphere beginning as a ballad with a beautiful vocal performance of 'Flora Spinelli' and which gains momentum and speed in the middle of the title before returning to the quiet atmosphere of the beginning. New little comma recited 'The Desert', then, 'Nowherland' takes us on a patchwork of atmospheres mixing oriental and electronic sounds in an original way and which continues with power metal which alternates sections more or less fast thanks to a section inventive rhythm. Follows 'Final Race' with a beautiful vocal duet between 'Flora Spinelli' and 'Vitor Veiga' on a new catchy melody, then, 'Virtual Rhapsody' is an instrumental mixing epic symphonic atmospheres and electronic sounds. After the short recitative 'Alert' which continues to immerse us in this universe of science fiction, 'Cyborg Hunt' deploys a beautiful energy with a new memorable melody while continuing to stick with the futuristic theme through electro breaks and which is certainly the most contrasting title with calm sections brought by a few piano notes. Last little comma recited, 'Before the Storm' takes us to the long development 'Global Annihilation' which presents different landscapes in which we find this juxtaposition which is the strength of this album of epic symphonic atmospheres and electronic sounds constantly bringing us back to the theme of the album, an album that ends in serenity, far from power metal, with the melancholic ballad 'Electric Requiem' in which 'Flora Spinelli' charms us with her bewitching voice.
In summary, 'Kerion' continues to surprise us with this original style which requires adhering to the mix between epic symphonic power metal and electronic sounds that the French call 'Comics metal' and this new chapter in the saga ' Cloudriders' should appeal to all power metal and symphonic metal audiences who love direct and effective melodies that go round and round in head... | |
