It's been 20 years since Epica's debut album, 'The Phantom Agony' was released and since then, we have seen a good number of symphonic metal formations that were inspired by the Dutch with more or less success. The Greeks of 'Mystfall' are one of those groups that perpetuate a symphonic metal very close to 'Epica': they were born just a year ago and have not wasted any time since they have just released their first studio recording 'Celestial Vision'. And I must say that the result is stunning because they already have an impressive maturity with all the ingredients that 'Epica' was able to put forward: an opera singer 'Marianena Trikoglou' who offers us remarkable vocal performances, growls of ' Kostas Mexis' in opposition to the female vocals, grandiose orchestral and vocal arrangements and melodic lines that catch on the first listen.
After the epic orchestral introduction 'Resisting Heaven' that we usually find in this style, the title track (see the video above) offers us a first symphonic metal hit and we discover 'Marialena Trikoglou' whose song is similar, in this imposing atmosphere, to that of 'Tarja'. In the same style, follows 'Centuries' which highlights rich orchestral and vocal arrangements and 'Endless' continues in this style with muscular guitar riffs but also shows that they know how to offer softer sections in opposition to any the energy released with a very beautiful passage in the second part of the title. The ballad is not forgotten with the very beautiful 'Silence' and in these more refined moments, 'Marianena Trikoglou' also shows this resemblance to 'Tarja' which she could well equal by persevering in the work of her voice. Overall, the compositions are quite short and direct and would benefit from being lengthened to allow the development of alternations: this is evidenced by compositions such as 'Kings Of Utopia' (see the video here) or 'Freedom Path' which could benefit from more variations of intensity and changes of rhythmic. But let's not sulk our pleasure, let's remember that it's only their first album and that the longest composition of the album 'The Balance Of Time' is quite remarkable in sketching precisely this welcome variety, the growls angry 'Kostas Mexis' alongside the bewitching song of 'Marialena Trikoglou' in an 'Epica'-like atmosphere.
In summary, the Greeks of 'Mystfall' release a first album of great quality which shows all the talent of this young formation which should, if it continues in this way, share the stage with the major ormations of symphonic metal because 'Celestial Vision' should, without a doubt, please an audience fan of artists like 'Epica' or 'Tarja' or 'Xandria' or 'Kamelot' or even 'Therion'... | |
