So here I am in power metal territory again, France division this time. Still I have been known to really enjoy the genre too so what do I have, hmmm?
Nightmare are another long running band with roots in’ the 80s although this time round the band had been back in action for a decade or so. I’d like to say this is an odd beast, too, but from the nicely executed cover style inwards they are pretty much what they telegraph; dramatic songs with a bright, slick production, flirting with minor orchestration and solid powerful metal riffs, a strong singer, a well drilled band and as far as I can tell mostly fantasy lyrics with a bit of a Heaven vs Hell theme. An extended orchestral and spoken intro that might suggest this is a concept album too but, alas, I have no lyric sheet to confirm.
The things that set them apart are both good and bad. The vocals have a fine range and a bit of grit to them, kind of Warrel Dane in style which helps to ground the sound rather than let it float away on a sugar high. Against that there is an odd riffing and rhythmic style, particularly on closer ‘Afterlife’, that frankly is way too nu metal for my nerves. It does drop away on the choruses, mostly, but it is a particularly unappealing amalgamation for me.
Therein lies the problem with this album. When it stays on the well trodden path like the rather rousing ‘Sunrise In Hell’ and the more pounding and driving title track we get treated to something more akin to the excellent Tarot; big pristine riffs, big voice and an irresistible chorus with some great metal leads and well used keys. When they veer off like on the aforementioned ‘Afterlife’ and the similar ‘Final Outcome’ the experience flutters between losing my attention and outright dislike. However it would also be fair to say that others will hear simply a modern, faintly Nevermore sound than that nu metal tinge I get.
So really it ends up being a bit mixed for me I’m afraid. When it’s good it is confident and well written power metal with a nice line in hooks. Unfortunately it also dips a little too often into the merely passable leaving me with about an EPs worth of metal to bang my first along to.
If you are a real aficionado of the genre then seriously give them a listen as you will probably mine far more from this than I can.
It just doesn’t have the consistency to keep me fired up I’m afraid, though.
(5.5/10 Gizmo)
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