I reviewed the Spanish Angelwings 'first album in 2017'The Edge Of Innocence' which made a very good impression on me and their new opus 'Primordium' has been released in June 2021 and confirms my position on this formation led by the singer 'Davinia Cano'. The line-up has evolved as two new guitarists 'Carlos Alvarez-Nava' and 'David Durán Ramírez' replacing 'Paul Cano', 'Dani Durán Ramírez' replacing 'Darren Fa' on bass, and drummer 'Ismael Viera Giraldo' having joined the group in 2018, the core of the formation being formed by 'Glenn Cano' on keyboards and orchestrations, and of course the soprano 'Davinia Cano' who on this album makes me think more and more of 'Sharon Del Adel'. With 10 original compositions for a full hour of music, they take us on a symphonic metal influenced by the major groups of the late 90s with the lead 'Within Temptation' with many mid-tempos some of which require several listenings for get all the richness out of it.
The long development 'Genesis' begins the album with an epic saga offering a construction in several drawers adding a progressive component to this very beautiful track which alternates different atmospheres passing from an energetic passage punctuated by saturated guitar riffs to a much quieter part, 'Divi' perfectly adapting her voice according to the intensity of the moment, then, 'Primordium' continues with a rhythmic structure in perpetual change, which make it a composition less accessible but which reveals itself as and when listenings. In symphonic metal we are used to alternating between male growls and female songs, the best example being the formation 'Epica', but with 'Nature's Lullaby' which follows, the growls of 'Carlos Alvarez' accompany the song of 'Divi' giving even more strength to this title which superimposes strength and softness at the same time, then, 'Fallen Angel Song' continues with more classical symphonic metal while keeping an unbridled rhythmic section which brings a real originality. It is with 'Sail Away' that we have the ballad of the album which takes us on a delicious journey starting in an atmospheric atmosphere and which turns into a power ballad after 2 minutes, then, 'Dehumanised' is an instrumental comma which allows the transition with the next title, 'Trapped' which, after a calm introduction, gains strength quite quickly and presents a more complex construction bringing changes of intensity and a good dose of progressive. We find in 'Changes' this alternation of intensity and tempo with a melancholy central section surrounded by two catchy parts, the first of which contains a magnificent keyboard solo of 'Glenn Cano', then, 'Prayer' returns to more classical symphonic metal with melodic lines reminiscent of the beginning of 'Within Temptation' while keeping its own originality thanks to the alternation of different intensities and tempos and the album ends with 'Lies & Secrets' with a remarkable central instrumental section framing two parts lively, the vocal duo 'Davinia Cano'/'Carlos Alvarez' always bringing this beautiful complementarity of clear vocals and extreme voice.
In summary, this second album from the Spaniards of 'Angelwings' shows the evolution of the Spaniards towards a more sought-after symphonic metal incorporating multiple variations of intensity and tempo which brings a good dose of progressive and which destines 'Primordium' to an audience loving an elaborate symphonic metal who needs to linger there to draw all the richness... | |
