Fallen Sanctuary are a brand new and much anticipated Melodic Symphonic Power Metal band formed by, and featuring the twin vocal approach of Georg Neuhauser (Serenity, Warkings, Phantasma etc) and guitarist/vocalist Marco Pastorino (Temperance, Virtual Symmetry, Wonders etc), who developed a lasting friendship when Temperance were touring with Serenity back in 2018, and at last now finding the time to make their idea of working together a reality. Having been joined by drummer Alfonso Mocerino (an obvious and worthy choice given his exemplary performances in both Temperance and Virtual Symmetry) and bassist Gabriele Gozzi (who is actually also a vocalist in his own right having just joined Eternal Idol), the line-up is complete and raring to go.
If anyone had asked me in advance who and what I thought this band would sound like, I would probably have plumped for a slick, vocally driven Melodic Power Metal in the vein of say, Sonata Arctica and I think this is maybe what many other fans of the genre would have hoped for too. So if you were one of them – congratulations, you were on the money! Factor in some obvious nods to Serenity especially and touches of Temperance, with maybe Secret Sphere (who of course Pastorino was the guitarist for) and that’s probably more than enough to draw anyone with an interest in the style well in. Some might see this obviousness as a negative, but Fallen Sanctuary do it so very well, so why not launch themselves right in towards the top of the genre?
I’m happy to hear that for an album so vocal melody orientated, there’s plenty within the guitar and even the keyboards to also be of interest and there’s nothing predictable about a debut album that has elements of all the members other bands, it’s just another fabulous unit for those fans to get excited about. Talking of predictable though, I of course enjoy the band the most in their galloping Power Metal guise, like on the opening title track, as well as ‘Bound To Our Legacy’ and especially the guitar-driven ‘Destiny’. Fallen Sanctuary also have a lighter side, as displayed on Power Ballad ‘To The Top’ (though it generally follows its own path and manages to reel in the cheese) and a couple of semi acoustic numbers – ‘Wait For Me’ and ‘I Can’t Stay’ which could be almost touted as a modern Symphonic Metal take on ‘More Than Words’ (Extreme) or ‘To Be With You’ (Mr Big), that kind of thing anyway. In between, the band serve up numerous, ultra-catchy powerful Melodic Metal mid-tempo anthems, always hooking you in with top notch vocals and hooks. And there you have it really, this is an album that lives up to any hype it may have garnered by delivering what anyone interested in them could possibly want. What more could you ask for?
(8.5/10 Andy Barker)
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