'Assignment' is a progressive power metal band from Germany and since the early 2000s they have released various LPs and EPs, the latest album being 'Reflections' which dates from 2020. 2022 sees the release of a 30-minute EP, and for all those who do not know this band (which I am also discovering with this EP), 'Assimilation' is a good way to realize the diversity they offer in a few titles (and in video) with covers offering a nice variety of styles. First, muscular blues/rock with 'Black Velvet' (see video above) which is by 'Alannah Myles' and dates from 1989, then 'Shadow of a Doubt' (see video here), is a song by 'Roxette' from 1986 which develops direct and energetic melodic metal. Without transition, the following track takes us into an ABBA cover, 'Lay All Your Love on Me' (see the video here) in a version slightly more saturated than the original, this title having already been covered by 'Amberian Dawn' in the album 'Looking for You'. Two instrumentals follow, 'The Running Man' (see the video here) and 'Christine' (see video here) which present the progressive side of Assignment' with different original variations on each musical theme and the end of the album is dedicated to the sequel 'Cimmerian Tales' which is taken from the soundtrack composed by 'Basil Poledouris' of the film 'Conan The Barbarian' , in an epic construction highlighting a powerful metal with alternating intensities and tempos in the first part and which deploys much more moderate folk atmospheres in the two following parts.
In summary, the Germans of Assignment' are releasing an EP which is a very varied and very original sample of different influences, which allows us to discover this formation which offers us relatively accessible progressive and melodic metal... | |
