'Karma' is a Greek band that is about twenty years old and had 2 periods : a first between 1998 and 2013 where they released 2 albums that were in a pop/rock style (see their website here) and a 2nd since 2013 where they decided to change their sound and evolve towards a progressive and symphonic metal. The end of 2018 saw the release of 'Illusions' with, as a guest the bassist 'Mike Lepond' of 'Symphony X' who took part in the title 'Red Lion' (do not trust the impressive list of Spotify under name 'Karma', because 'Illusions' is the only album of the Greeks in their 2nd period). And what a treat !! After a first listen, we say to ourselves that we are at the level of the main groups of progressive and symphonic metal together because they have this particularity to gather these 2 styles for the best and they are not a lot to know how to do it. The album begins with 'Path Of Light (Prophecy I)' typical of a symphonic metal accessible and punctuated by flamboyant choirs, then, 'Red Lion' embarks us in a short energetic and melodic title that offers us the first mix between progressive and symphonic. Following my first heart stroke, 'Ode to Foreign Lands', of exceptional richness, mixing influences as varied as traditional song, pop/rock influences of the 80s with a rigged voice and symphonic rock with a remarkable fluidity between all these styles that makes the great strength of this title. 'Bullying Scars' is my second favorite of the album because it has great emotional strength with a progressive metal part surrounded by 2 beautiful melancholic parts and I can not help but when I listen to this title of thinking 'The Box' of 'Threshold' (see here). I could go on describing all the titles, but for short, I would simply say that the suite continues to offer us rich and varied compositions in which various influences mix with always a remarkable homogeneity (just an example with the jazzy part at the end of ‘Nation In Chains’). Note the cover of 'Master of Puppets' from 'Metallica' that they have 'symphonized' which gives it a more grandiose side that did not have the original. In summary, the Greeks of 'Karma' bring a little gem of metal mixing progressive and symphonic and, even if 'Illusions' requires several successive listenings to discover every nook (sign of great wealth), this album is essential for all those who love all the big progressive metal formations... | |
