As a damp frost gives way to lashing rain, driven by bitter gusting winds, a new day dawns with sluggish. reluctant light. Ever-increasing dark puddles reflect the leaden grey skies which are unrelenting, casting a dark shroud over the stark, unforgiving landscape. Or in other words, another typical January day in England. Turning away from the rain-drenched window I lethargically motion towards my laptop and with a resigned sigh I check my morning emails. Three new messages – I’m informed yet again that the payment for my tax bill’s still due…notified that if I enjoyed my recent purchase for socks, then please could I leave feedback…Oh, and one from the editor at Ave Noctum with an album to review! Hope flickers as I click to open, discover it’s the new Twilight Force album – and from out of nowhere the sun breaks through! I even think there might have been a choral “Aaaahhh-aaahhh-aaahhh” in there too…but that was probably somewhere on the album as I pressed play and let the musical warmth envelope me.
Because it’s time for another trip into the Twilight Kingdom, to catch up with the Knights of Twilight’s Might and see how they’re getting on with their dragon-bound adventures. Because when we’re deep in the realms of Symphonic Fantasy Power Metal, as we reliably are with Sweden’s Twilight Force, there’s always going to be dragons at the root of things. Leave your musical cynicism at the large, solid, arched wooden door (bar it with your sword if possible, maybe hang your cloak on the handle for good measure) and welcome in the Power Metal bombasity that is Twilight Force. Just over three years since their last release, fantasy escapism is again the order of the day…and multi-faceted, over the top Symphonic Power Metal too of course.
Once more, it’s like Twilight Force have looked at Rhapsody Of Fire and decided they’re just not taking things far enough. The drums gallop along with the bass, keeping energy levels constant, twisting the tempos this way and that, while the guitars dance with the resplendent keyboards, weaving their way through individual audio-stories as the soaring, majestic vocals carry the unpredictable arrangements along. Of course there’s Movie-style narration, complete with over-emphasised characterisation and suitably dramatic over-acting (exactly what’s needed!), epic storytelling around grandiose arrangements, infectious choruses, melodic choirs, abundant orchestration, quirky folk elements and of course, layer upon layer of unapologetic, dazzling Symphonic Power Metal, delivered with the highest quality of musicianship. Also, rather than including a ballad, there’s a rather sweet acoustic/folk medley of some of the band’s previous songs – much more unexpected and welcome than the usual over-blown power-ballad in my opinion.
Twilight Force might not be particularly ground-breaking, nor are they dealing us anything the genre hasn’t given us before, but then, they aren’t trying to be, they’re just trying to be one of the best at their chosen Metal style. In truth, it’s hard to think of another Symphonic Power Metal band that are so utterly, well…cheesy, and yet ooze so much undeniable class at the same time. But they totally pull it off because they are so incredibly good at what they do and it’s all just so ridiculously, wonderfully uplifting. Maybe you have to be in the right frame of mind in the first place for Twilight Force, but in all honesty, although it’s still pouring with rain outside, I know there’s worse things in the world than bad weather, things could be a lot worse, and thanks in the moment to Twilight Force, I’m not quite as troubled as I was, not quite as daunted by the dark scenarios the outside world may have in store, because just for a little while, there’s some sunshine inside – hell, there’s even a track on here called ‘Sunlight Knight’ complete with calypso-style refrain!!! Just one more glimpse into the colourful and varied world Twilight Force reside in…
(8/10 Andy Barker)
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