It’s probably an age thing (not ‘probably’, I know it is…), because technology seems to stride forward at an increasingly surprising rate the older I get and this self-financed debut album from Israeli Symphonic Metal band StormbounD is just another way that I’m amazed how a band can fund, create and release something of such a high calibre, all by themselves. But of course they can, and I’m a relic of a bygone age who still instinctively thinks “self-released” is a demo tape/CD, with a home-printed cover and usually an audio quality to match, but here we have Symphonic Metal of high quality with songs, performances and arrangements which are allowed to shine exactly as the band surely intended. It weren’t like this when I were a lad…
But thankfully it is now, because StormbounD really do shine. One of the great things about the band is that although intrinsically Symphonic Metal, they also introduce other Melodic, Power, Progressive and Speed Metal moments sporadically – just enough for impact and to enhance their own style, which works very well. The female and male vocal approach is also done with quite a few different male styles enabling the band to be reminiscent of Epica at StormbounD’s heaviest, Visions Of Atlantis when they nudge into Symphonic Power Metal and even Regicide on the more melodically orientated songs like ‘Away From Here’. It should be noted that the female vocals are also varied to match the style of each song too, but on a more subtle level (of which ‘Fragments’ is a fine example) meaning the album retains a continuity.
Although all the vocals are of the highest quality, the musicianship matches them, with varied guitar styles (Speed/Heavy/Melodic and Progressive all within minutes of each other), powerful rhythms, Symphonic orchestration and even progressive keyboard touches. And of course the occasional traditional instrument is squeezed in there too. I suppose the album might come across as a bit of a showcase given the professionalism on display, and the variation of styles on offer, but if this is a way of the band courting a label deal then it really should work. There are plenty of Symphonic Metal bands out there who are still churning out the same old Nightwish influenced stuff that has been done to death, but StormbounD bring something different to the party, a vibrancy and freshness that makes them very hard to ignore. An excellent debut that I would hope will lead to much more for the band.
(8/10 Andy Barker)
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