Faced with an Italian Symphonic Metal band on Scarlet Records (and if you are unfamiliar with Moonlight Haze) you might suspect Frozen Crown mastermind Frederico Mondelli was trying to sneak out another project before unleashing the new Volturian album. But no it isn’t, “Animus” is Moonlight Haze’s third album in three years. This prolific Melodic Symphonic Power Metal band have been refining their already classy sound with each album, and make another striking step forward with 2022’s offering. If you like your Symphonic Metal powerful but catchy and impactful, big on melodic vocal hooks and insistent choruses, then Moonlight Haze might just be the band for you.
On the surface, Moonlight Haze appear to be occupying a similar musical territory to Delain and Beyond The Black, but also have the ability to take a song from the melodic trappings of Edenbridge, Serenity or Lunatica, then when they feel like it, fire it in with the power and urgency of a Sonata Arctica or the dexterity of someone like Visions of Atlantis or Xandria and the mature class of a Nightwish. The crisp, clear production enhances their melodic twin guitar approach, which is backed perfectly by the dynamic, powerful rhythm section, which drives each song perfectly. The focus of many of the songs might be the fabulously catchy chorus, but even the other vocal lines etc (delivered with grace and confidence by vocalist Chiara Tricorico) have a resounding memorable quality to them, such is the band’s attention to detail.
This is not only Melodic Symphonic Metal for the here and now, it also manages to take time-honoured elements from Symphonic Metal past, such is the maturity that the band display on “Animus”. It only takes a couple of listens before you can stick this album on shuffle with others of its kind and still easily pick out the uniquely Moonlight Haze “Animus” tracks, as if you have known them for so much longer. This is an album that gets under your skin…quickly, and lodges itself firmly in your memory. Sparkling guitar melodies, skipping upbeat rhythms and soaring vivacious vocal lines converge as one to make this album an absolute pleasure for anyone seeking top class feel-good Melodic Symphonic Metal. Moonlight Haze – Welcome to the big leagues!
(9/10 Andy Barker)
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