After 'Icons of the New Days' in 2018, the Spaniards of 'Lords Of Black' released in 2020 'Alchemy Of Souls, Pt.I' which was the first part of a heavy metal saga very well received by the specialized press. It took only one year for the sequel to be released and, the least we can say, this sequel has nothing to envy to its little brother. We find powerful and melodic compositions with 'Ronnie Romero' at the top of his art and 'Tony Hernando' who throws us majestic guitar solos.
The short instrumental intro 'Prelude' serves as a launching pad for 'Maker Of Nothingness', typical of the Spaniards' energetic heavy metal with catchy melodic lines, as do 'What's Become of Us' (see video above) and 'Bound to You' (see video here) which follow, the latter having a headbanging rhythmic beat. The power ballad break comes early with 'Before That Time Can Come' (see the video here), which can be described as classic but so effective, then it's back to powerful and melodic compositions with 'Mind Killer' and 'Death Dealers', followed by 'Prayers Turned To Whispers', which, after a more subdued introduction with electro sounds, then shows a much heavier face. With 'In a Different Light', the alternating intensities bring some variety to the whole, then, 'How Long Do I Have Now' returns to classic heavy metal but presents a nice break in the second part of the track, the original tracks ending with the energetic 'Fated To Be Destroyed' and 'No Hero Is Homeless'. Of note is a nice, muscular cover of 'Uriah Heep', 'Sympathy', from the legendary album 'Firefly' which is one of my vinyl albums that I've worn out to the bone.
In summary, no surprise for this last baby of 'Lords Of Black' who offer us what they have always done best, good metal full of energy with a singer who does not do things by halves and a talented guitarist whose riffs are devastating, which destines the second chapter of 'Alchemy Of Souls', just like the first one, to all lovers of melodic heavy metal because the compositions are all catchy from the first listen... | |
