2006-04-27
I know what you're thinking, it's another Italian power metal band, and you'll be half right, it’s not just another power metal band, its one of the finest, and it’s not exactly power, either, half the time Arthemis create heavy yet melodic heavy metal with some hard rock leanings.
This is the band's fourth release since their birth in 1994, it’s safe to say that most of the writing in the band is done by guitarist Andrea Martongelli, but none of the band members lacks talent, as is proven from the first minute or so of opening track “Rise Up From The Ashes”. A good melody line combined with some solid hard rock riffs, Alesio Garavello has a real quality voice, high pitched with a good range, almost no visible accent to interfere with his delivery, he also uses some backing choirs that reminded me of
Angra's; the chorus is catchy and fun, not over thought or heavily complex, just straight forward metallic fun, the considerable guitar playing talents of both Martongelli and Matteo Ballottari is evident in their lead work in the track.
A side note- Either the band are all midgets or Ballottari is a huge guy, he towers over them in the band photos…
Second track drops all the hard rock touches and goes straight for the jugular, fast paced power metal with the requisite double bass drumming, the production by the ever-busy Luigi Stefanini is on the spot, warm yet clear.
“Free Spirit” is back in hard rock land, again, catchy, almost anthem-like, I have to admit that the band's lyrics contain every single metal cliché known to man, but who gives a fuck as long as they rock this good.
Even the seemingly overwrought ballad “Touch The Sky” is enjoyable, again, extra points to Garavello's fantastic vocal delivery and the top notch lead guitar work, these guys know their stuff.
This isn’t an overly complicated or ambitious album, it just aims to rock the shit out of you and with that - it succeeds admirably.
Alon Miasnikov
