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Interview – Denis (A Dark Reborn)

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Let’s join guitarist Denis from A Dark Reborn somewhere out in space to talk about their new album Last Echo, his passion for heavy music, and much more in this futuristic interview to The Headbanging Moose.

Denis (A Dark Reborn)

The Headbanging Moose: Hello from Canada! How are you doing? Thanks for your time for this interview. Let’s start with an intro to the band for the ones who know nothing about A Dark Reborn, how about that? Could you please let us know more about the band, when you started, and any other details worth mentioning?

Denis: Hello, nice to meet you! I’m Denis, rhythm guitar of the band. First of all, thank you for your interest and desire to get to know us, it is a pleasure that you want to get to know us from so far away!! So I’ll tell you a little about us. The band began to weave Lur around 2019, perhaps a little before, preparing things at home, while looking for people to accompany them in this madness. First Ivan (the bassist) appeared, shortly after Thomas (lead guitar) came in and later I, Denis came in as rhythm guitar along with the first drummer. However, there have been a couple of drummer changes, until today’s definitive lineup, with Saül becoming part of this family. We are a band with a good mix of influences that range from the most extreme metal, prog, hardcore,… through the classics and I could even say that some connotations of pop, blues,…

THM: Now let’s talk about your brand new album Last Echo and the concept behind it. You mentioned that the album is “about a space trip to a new life”. Can you tell us more about that? And what are the main differences from your 2022 album The Light?

Denis: Well, I’ll start with the differences between My Light and Last Echo. Mainly, the first album was a download of ideas, sensations, thoughts, influences… we reached a very beautiful symbiosis as a band and we were able to mix everything in a way that worked very well, in our opinion. The Last Echo album, as you say, is a journey escaping an apocalypse or whatever you want to call it. We are the last habitants of the earth, and we go out in search of a new home, and this album explains a little how we feel about each other, internal, personal conflicts, between us, while we arrive at the destination… or not, hahahaha

THM: You also had a few words about the futuristic artwork by renowned artist Gustavo Sazes, saying that “it reflects that new world to discover, decadent, desolate and dark, but still harbors hope.” How easy was it to work with such great artist, and how long did it take for you to reach the final artwork?

Denis: Well, the truth is that it was relatively easy to reach the final work. By making this album in a block of three parts and each of them with a different cover, it was easy to evolve each part until reaching the last one. We also knew that Sazes likes this type of theme, so it was quite easy to share ideas and understand each other.

THM: What were the biggest challenges faced by the band during the recordings of Last Echo? Is there anything that is not exactly like you planned in the final version of the album?

Denis: To tell the truth, the biggest challenge in recording this album was the time we had. We all know that record labels give you release dates and things like that, and perhaps that was the biggest challenge. It should be said that every time we go to the studio with Raúl Abellán, he always gives us a little twist to always look for a little more of ourselves and help us evolve both as musicians and as people. But yes, the biggest handicap was combining time together with wanting to make a concept album of this type. If I’m honest, I think we wouldn’t change anything on the album, since if we changed something, it wouldn’t be the same, no matter how little difference there was, it would be something else, and the truth is we are very proud of how it turned out.

Album Review – A Dark Reborn / Last Echo (2023)

THM: What would be favorite songs from Last Echo? You can’t say you love them all because I already know that, but if you had to choose maybe two or three songs that truly represent the band in the album, which ones would you pick?

Denis: Hahaha good question! Well, look, one of them is definitely Last Echo, for me it is a song that I listen to today in my headphones, in the car… and I can’t quite believe that we are the ones who played that song, it seems like any other song to me, another international band or I don’t know, hahahaha. Another one that I really like to play live is The Flight, I think it has a lot of strength, and it retains that part with evolved prog atmospheres from the first album and to finish with a third I would say Delirium, it has that tapping part that takes me to I don’t know where, for my rhythmic music it’s really fun to play.

THM: I saw that you just played in the beginning of November on the first edition of Bloody Fest in Spain, and that you have another bunch of live concerts scheduled between January and May all over Spain. How excited are you for those shows, and can we expect to see A Dark Reborn playing outside of Spain, maybe for example at some European festivals during the summer next year (or even here in Canada)?

Denis: Indeed, the first presentation concert of Last Echo was at Bloody Fest, and the truth is that it was very fun, and the response from the people who came to see us was spectacular. Well, we are eager to get back into the van and put in the miles. We really want to present the new album to the world and our show. We have dates until the month of May, but we are waiting to see if we close any more, to see if there are any festivals, and we really want to cross the border to Europe, and be able to get to Canada… oh my god!! That would be wonderful, I hope!! Although we know from listening to Spotify, for example, that we are being listened to a lot in the USA, so who knows.

THM: How’s the underground scene in Spain right now in your opinion? I mean, I’m always reviewing new albums by several amazing Spanish bands from Black and Death Metal to Metalcore and Hard Rock, but as you’re living and breathing the scene you might have some special comments about it. Also, apart from A Dark Reborn, which other Spanish bands should we keep an eye on?

Denis: Well, I will tell you that Spain is still a Latin country, which is why the underground scene, whether metal or hiphop or things like that, is difficult to stand out. You have to play the key very well, and be in the right place, with the right people and at the right time. That doesn’t mean that there are BRUTAL bands, with a lot of talent at the starting gate waiting for their turn, really! I could suggest to you friend bands such as Ankor, Violblast, Erio, We Exist Even Dead… and I left many out. I’m telling you, there is an impressive level of underground bands in this country!

THM: There’s this game I like to play sometimes with the bands interviewed here called “The Time Capsule”, where I ask the bands to list 10 songs from 10 different bands or artists to be saved in a time capsule for all future generations. Would you like to play that? And please, tell us the reason for selecting each song, of course.

Denis: Hahaha very good, let’s get to it then. You make it difficult but we are going to propose some!

1. Heaven Shall Burn – Endzeit
2. Mastodon – More Than I Could Chew
3. Get The Shot – Ultimate Warfare
4. Upon A Burning Body – The Island Of Lost Dreams
5. Jinjer – I Speak Astronomy
6. Amorphis – Brother And Sister
7. Soziedad Alkoholika – Tiempos Oscuros
8. Memento Mori Hardcore – Lleida Hardcore
9. Septicflesh – The Collector
10. Orbit Culture – North Star Of Nija

Well look, for future generations, we are going to wait for the future, hahahaha. At least me, I am a person who is guided a lot by sensations and moods, and that is what my playlists are based on. I don’t usually listen to individual songs. I prefer to listen to a band’s entire album. It seems to me that they have that way. meaning all the songs. Therefore, let’s wait until next year if you feel like it and look at this question again and talk about it, what do you think?

A Dark Reborn

THM: You have an amazing new album, a very exciting tour coming in 2024, you’re always working hard on your videos, and so on. Having said that, what’s next for A Dark Reborn? What else can we expect from the band in the coming months and years?

Denis: Thanks a lot for your comment on the album!!!! You can expect a lot of work and dedication from the band, we want to take great care of that, to always be able to transmit and get as close as possible to the person listening to us. We want to make it easy to reach each one of you. We hope to go as far as possible; we want to take on the world, we really want to go out and share with you everything we have. And above all you can expect effort and a lot of passion, which is a fundamental piece of this band, the passion for what we do. Well, we are fulfilling our dreams, what else could I say?

THM: Thanks again for your time! Feel free to send a final message to our readers, where to buy your music, and anything else you would like to say here!

Denis: Well, first of all, I would like to thank you again for wanting to meet us from so far away, for us it is an honor. I hope I can get to that side of the world soon and be able to say hello and share some beers!!!! For those who want to listen, know that we are on all digital reproduction platforms, be it Spotify, YouTube… and if you would like to support us with some merchandising, we have an online store on the Art Gates Records label, or if you prefer, you can write to us a DM on Instagram, Facebook, and we will be happy to chat with all of you and help you with everything you need! I repeat, thank you very much for the attention and the opportunity!!

Links
A Dark Reborn Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify | Linktree

Album Review – A Dark Reborn / Last Echo (2023)

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Embark on a musical voyage to the sound of this conceptual album about a space trip to a new life, carefully brought into being by an up-and-coming Melodic Death Metal outfit from Spain.

Leaded by the charismatic vocalist Lur, Girona, Spain-based Melodic Death Metal outfit A Dark Reborn combines atmospheric piano sounds with clean vocals and their darkest influences shaped by the power of their guitar riffs, which can easily be seen in their newborn opus, titled Last Echo. Produced, recorded and mixed by Raúl Abellán at The Mixtery, mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios, and displaying a futuristic artwork by Gustavo Sazes (and in the words of the band, it reflects “that new world to discover, decadent, desolate and dark, but still harbors hope”), the follow-up to their 2022 album The Light is a conceptual album that is about a space trip to a new life, all carefully brought into being by the aforementioned Lur on vocals alongside Thomas and Denis on the guitars, Ivan on bass, and Saül on drums.

The guitars by Thomas and Denis set the tone in the opening tune The Flight, being quickly joined by the rumbling kitchen by Ivan and Saül and, of course, the delicate yet infernal roars by Lur. Then drinking form the same fountain as Scandinavian Melodic Death Metal masters such as Soilwork, Arch Enemy and In Flames, the band offers us all an electrifying tune titled Illusions, which should work really well if played live, whereas minimalist, sinister guitar lines gradually evolve into a modern-day Melodic Death Metal feast titled Keida, with Lur roaring manically supported by the rumbling bass by Ivan while Saül keeps hammering his drums in great fashion. And in the title-track Last Echo the band enhances their heaviness and obscurity, which leads Lur to vociferate with even more anger in her blackened heart while also delivering her passionate clean vocals for our total delight.

Featuring vocalist Daniël de Jongh (Crown Compass, Black Nazareth, Textures) in a gripping duo with Lur, Ritual will inspire us all to bang our heads together with the band while Raül continues to pound his drums mercilessly; followed by Delirium, as atmospheric and futuristic as its predecessors, reminding me of some of the most visceral creations by Infected Rain. Moreover, Lur once again steals the spotlight with her wild growls and clean vocals. Their Melodic Death Metal feast with modern elements goes on in Levitating the Void, with Lur kicking ass on vocals as usual supported by the metallic bass by Ivan and the always hammering drums by Saül. Dark Matter is not a bad song, but a bit generic if compared to the rest of the album, while Lur still showcases all her vocal power, of course; whereas lastly, we’re treated to Hopeless, another song with an atmospheric vibe that evolves into a dark ballad full of passion, anguish and melancholy, putting a stylish ending to the album.

“The atmospheres and pianos will accompany you on this journey composed of three parts, where they continue with a Melodic Death Metal base, raw and dark parts, heartbreaking passages, melodic and melancholic choruses, and even some parts that reveal a lot of light, but soon return to take you to darkness and desolation,” commented the band about their new album, and you can enjoy that fusion of heavy music, passion and great storytelling in its entirety on YouTube and on Spotify, or purchase your favorite version of the album from the Art Gates Records webstore or by clicking HERE. In addition, go check what the band is up to on Facebook and on Instagram, including their tour dates, and subscribe to their YouTube channel for more of their classy music. After all is said and done, are you ready to join A Dark Reborn in their space trip to a new life to the sound of their new album? I’m sure you won’t regret it at all.

Best moments of the album: Illusions, Last Echo and Ritual.

Worst moments of the album: Dark Matter.

Released in 2023 Art Gates Records

Track listing
1. The Flight 4:02
2. Illusions 4:06
3. Keida 4:26
4. Last Echo 3:27
5. Ritual 4:23
6. Delirium 3:44
7. Levitating the Void 5:47
8. Dark Matter 3:53
9. Hopeless 3:42

Band members
Lur – vocals
Thomas – lead guitars
Denis – rhythm guitars
Ivan – bass
Saül – drums

Guest musician
Daniël de Jongh – vocals on “Ritual”

Album Review – Chaoseum / The Third Eye (2022)

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This Lausanne, Switzerland-based Nu Metal/Metalcore outfit welcomes us all back to their museum of chaos to the sound of their fourth full-length album.

The talented vocalist CK Smile, guitarists Loïc Duruz and Valery Veings, and drummer Greg Turini, collectively known as the unstoppable Lausanne, Switzerland-based Nu Metal/Metalcore outfit Chaoseum, are welcoming us all back to their “museum of chaos” with the release of their fourth full-length album, entitled The Third Eye, following up on their critically acclaimed 2020 album Second Life. Recorded by Chaoseum at Chaos Studio and Conatus Studios, mixed and mastered by Gwen Kerjan at Slab Sound Studio, and again displaying a grim artwork by Brazilian artist Gustavo Sazes, The Third Eye showcases a more mature and dynamic Chaoseum, who are never afraid of experimenting with new sounds while staying true to their roots throughout the entire album.

I, Sexy Zombie already provides us all with a classy fusion of Alternative Metal and Metalcore where CK’s vocals are at the same time enraged and wicked, while Loïc and Valery extract sheer groove from their stringed weapons; and drinking form the same fountain as renowned acts the likes of Korn and Marilyn Manson the band offers us Unreal, perfect for raising your horns at a sick Halloween party while also showcasing an amazing guitar job done by the band’s talented axe duo. Dance on My Grave is modern and electrifying form the very first second, with Loïc, Valery and Greg making the earth tremble, offering CK exactly what he needs to declaim the song’s dark lyrics (and all spiced up by the song’s incendiary backing screams), whereas the interlude The Third Eye brings to our avid ears somber and atmospheric passages before exploding into Fly Away, inviting us all to jump up and down and bang our heads nonstop to the furious beats by Greg, also displaying the band’s trademark melody and modernized sounds.

Rumbling bass lines and chaotic riffs and beats ignite the dense tune My Wonderland, where once again CK is on fire on vocals in another great sample of how the band’s musicality has evolved in an exciting way through the years. Then it’s time to hit the dance floor together with Chaoseum and succumb to pitch black darkness to the sound of Welcome Home, a fantastic modern-day Metalcore and Alternative Metal extravaganza led by CK’s anguished vocals, followed by the dark ballad Until The End, with Greg dictating the pace with his sluggish beats while also presenting another amazing guitar work done by Loïc and Valery. Their second to last blast of modern and groovy sounds, entitled Sanctum Cinerem, will hammer your head mercilessly from the very first second, with CK sounding possessed on vocals as usual; and What If is perhaps the most experimental of all songs while still bringing the band’s core Alternative Metal, offering our ears solid instrumental pieces by all band members and, therefore, turning it into a great option for their live performances.

If you want to savor The Third Eye in its entirety you can stream the album on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course the guys from Chaoseum would love to see their new album added to your personal collection by purchasing it from their own webstore, from their BandCamp page, from Le Lapin Blanc (as a CD or an LP), from Apple Music, or from Amazon. Furthermore, don’t forget to give them a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, and to subscribe to their YouTube channel for more of their unique creations. I don’t know what’s next for Chaoseum, but if they keep working so hard and so focused, delivering great music like what they did in The Third Eye, we can rest assured their “museum of chaos” will remain open and expanding in the most exciting way imaginable.

Best moments of the album: Unreal, Dance on My Grave and Welcome Home.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2022 Independent

Track listing
1. I, Sexy Zombie 4:05
2. Unreal 5:09
3. Dance on My Grave 3:53
4. The Third Eye 1:33
5. Fly Away 4:24
6. My Wonderland 5:00
7. Welcome Home 6:33
8. Until The End 4:00
9. Sanctum Cinerem 5:38
10. What If 5:56

Band members
CK Smile – vocals
Loïc Duruz – guitars, bass
Valery Veings – guitars
Greg Turini – drums

Album Review – Chaoseum / Second Life (2020)

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After taking their first step to hell, it’s time for those Swiss metallers to stun us all with their sophomore album, showcasing a thrilling fusion of Metalcore and Nu Metal with a theatrical twist.

Founded in 2018 by Loïc Duruz and Valery Veings, both former guitarists of Symphonic Metal band Elferya, the up-and-coming Lausanne, Switzerland-based Metalcore act Chaoseum is back in action in 2020 with their sophomore album entitled Second Life, presenting the band’s trademark amalgamation of styles including Metalcore, Power Crossover and Nu Metal, among others. Recorded at both Chaos Studio and Conatus Studios, mixed by Gwen Kerjan from Slab Sound Studio, and featuring a beautiful artwork by Brazilian artist Gustavo Sazes, Second Life brings forward a new (and more theatrical) era in the career of Chaoseum, with its 11 original compositions thoroughly crafted by Loïc and Valery together with fontman CK Smile and drummer Greg Turini appealing to all fans of the modern metal music played by bands such as Lacuna Coil, Korn, Trivium, Killswitch Engage and Slipknot, among others.

The creepy, cinematic intro XXV-IX-MMXX (or September 15, 2020, the official release date of the album) will send shivers down your spine before the quartet comes crushing with their vicious Metalcore in Hell Has No Way Out, with Greg sounding like a machine gun on drums while Loïc and Valery fire melodious riffs for our total delight and CK roars and sings with tons of anguish. The melodic and aggressive title-track Second Life starts in an atmospheric way before exploding into a visceral fusion of Metalcore and Melodic Death Metal, with the rumbling sounds of the bass by Loïc punching us hard in the head, followed by Into My Split, a fulminating Alternative Metal tune tailored for banging our heads nonstop or simply enjoying the gentle guitars and beats by the band, all spiced up by CK’s introspective performance. Then we have the excellent Smile Again, clearly inspired by Nu Metal masters Korn, with CK doing his best Jonathan Davis impersonation while Loïc and Valery keep delivering pure metallic lines through their riffs and bass punches; whereas it’s time to speed things up and offer the listener the sinister and alternative Scream, with Loïc, Valery and Greg bringing tons of progressiveness to their wicked sonority, and with its futuristic and modern vibe being all CK needs to shine on vocals.

Stick Under My Skin is another song with a cryptic, mesmerizing intro, evolving into a feast of Alternative, Groove and Progressive Metal where CK’s clean and harsh vocals are nicely supported by his bandmates’ backing vocals, while Burn My Eyes is a solid rock and metal creation by Chaoseum, albeit a bit generic if compared to the rest of the album, with both Loïc and Valery doing a great job with their flammable guitars. And you better get ready as there’s still a lot more of the music by Chaoseum, starting with Feel, a modern, industrialized party perfect for their live performances where the quartet enhances their rage, punch and insanity. Put differently, this is a heavier version of traditional Alternative Metal led by the classic beats by Greg, while things can’t get more alternative nor groovier than in Sex In Hell, a suggestive song name that matches perfectly with the heavy but sexy music played by the band, resulting in a dark ballad where CK steals the spotlight with his devilish vocals. Lastly, there’s more of their groovy bass punches and rhythmic beats intertwined with futuristic background elements and the raspy vocals by CK in Frozen, a song which fans of Korn, Lacuna Coil and other modern metal bands will surely love.

In a nutshell, it doesn’t matter if you’re a longtime fan of Alternative and Nu Metal or if you’re taking your first steps in this more modern side of heavy music, you should definitely add Second Life to your daily playlist (and you can do so by streaming the album in full on Spotify). Chaoseum put their hearts and souls into the making of their new opus, and you can sense that passion and hard work in each and every track of the album, proving those Swiss metallers are o the right path to stardom. Hence, don’t forget to show them your support by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by subscribing to their YouTube channel and, above all that, by purchasing their new album from their own BandCamp page or webstore (where you can by the way find tons of ass-kicking merch as well), from Apple Music or from Amazon. Chaoseum’s “first step to hell” was already solid and vibrant, but it’s under this new era, or maybe I should call it their “second life”, that the band is ready to show the world what their music is all about.

Best moments of the album: Hell Has No Way Out, Scream and Stick Under My Skin.

Worst moments of the album: Burn My Eyes.

Released in 2020 Independent

Track listing
1. XXV-IX-MMXX 0:58
2. Hell Has No Way Out 4:07
3. Second Life 4:18
4. Into My Split 4:18
5. Smile Again 4:27
6. Scream 3:38
7. Stick Under My Skin 4:51
8. Burn My Eyes 3:31
9. Feel 4:39
10. Sex In Hell 5:41
11. Frozen 4:41

Band members
CK Smile – vocals
Loïc Duruz – guitars, bass
Valery Veings – guitars
Greg Turini – drums

Album Review – Rage Of Light / Imploder (2019)

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A contrast made of light and rage in the form of an action-packed album of trance music and Melodic Death Metal.

A contrast made of light and rage. That’s exactly what you’re going to get in Imploder, the debut full-length album by Swiss Electronic Groove Metal unity Rage Of Light, the brainchild of vocalist and keyboardist Jonathan Pellet, known for his past works with Symphonic Power Metal band Trophallaxy/Dysrider. Offering a hybrid of trance and Melodic Death Metal, a unique combination of sounds that can be labeled as “Trance Metal”, Rage Of Light will stimulate all your senses with their brand new opus, showing why the multi-talented Jonathan, together with the gorgeous Melissa Bonny (Evenmore, Warkings, Ad Infinitum) on lead vocals and the talented Noé Schüpbach on guitars and bass, are more than ready to conquer the world of heavy music with their creativity, electricity and, of course, a lot of rage.

Jonathan came up with the idea to create a fusion of trance and metal music in 2007, but due to being busy with other projects it took almost a decade for the idea to fully bear fruit. Finally, in 2015, he recruited Melissa and Noé to complete the band, releasing in 2016 their debut five-track EP Chasing a Reflection, followed by a few very interesting singles in 2017 and 2018 including cover versions for Amon Amarth’s battle hymn “Twilight Of The Thunder God” and Lady Gaga’s hit “Judas”. After receiving very positive feedback from fans and critics from all over the world through the years, it’s time now in 2019 for Rage Of Light to reach new heights with Imploder, featuring a modern artwork by Brazilian artist Gustavo Sazes, cellist Joëlle “Jo” Graz (Trophallaxy/Dysrider) as a very special guest musician and, above all, three superb musicians who perfectly represent the union of endless talent and a deep passion for music.

The very atmospheric and entrancing intro Light captivates our senses from the very first second, dragging us to Rage Of Light’s lair of heavy music in Enraged, where the trio begins distilling their refined techniques and ethereal sounds, with Melissa’s hypnotizing vocals matching flawlessly with the song’s epic ambience and crushing beats, not to mention Noé’s amazing guitar solo as the icing on the cake. Following such powerful start, keep banging your head to Melissa, Jonathan and Noé to the heavy-as-hell Fallen, a beautiful fusion of modern-day Melodic Death Metal with trance music, or in other words, a rebellious hymn by Rage Of Light led by Jonathan’s whimsical keys and synths, all complemented by his own rabid growls. And in their 2018 single I Can, I Will we’re treated to a more frantic and electrified version of their Trance Metal, with both Melissa and Jonathan kicking some serious ass with their powerful roars, giving life to the song’s poetic lyrics (“My eyes drag me down / When I look around and see what I’m not / Is there, anywhere, a stairway to the top? / Watch me, never again / Will I look down and feel this pain / Cause now, step by step I start to climb and leave these cries behind”).

Experimenting even more with electronic and eccentric sounds, the band offers our ears another dancing fusion of 90’s trance with Heavy Metal infused with Symphonic Metal nuances in Away With You, where it’s quite impossible to stand still to its enfolding rhythm, while In The Shadow is another solid composition featuring classic beats and riffs mixed with the band’s trademark modernity (it falls flat after a while, though), with Melissa stealing the spotlight once again with her unique voice. Then the gentle and potent cello by Jo brings a touch of finesse to the beyond fantastic and insurgent Battlefront, with Melissa alternating between her crisp clean vocals and her she-demon roars in what’s probably the most detailed and multi-layered song from the entire album; and get ready for a trance-meets-metal party in the instrumental title-track Imploder, courtesy of Jonathan and Noé, who together generate a dense, mechanized and metallic atmosphere for admirers of the genre. Furthermore, despite the fact the drums in the entire album are programmed, they still sounds very organic, therefore smashing your skull mercilessly.

With lyrics sounding like a blend of cult flicks such as Terminator and Night of the Living Dead (“Our lives, threatened by this viral disease / We thought we could handle this affliction / No cure will stop the infection to spread / Condemned by our evolution”), Mechanicals, also previously released as a single, is a movie score-inspired extravaganza showcasing intricate guitar lines, pounding drums,  tons of insanity and a futuristic vibe in over seven minutes of first-class modern metal music, leaving us completely disoriented before Nothingness closes the regular version of the album, with Jo returning with her somber cello to add her share of melancholy and serenity to Rage Of Light’s vibrant music while Noé brings rage to the overrall result with his riffs, flowing smoothly until its delicate grand finale. And please I beg you to go for the deluxe edition of Imploder, as you’ll be absolutely stunned by the bonus track Twilight Of The Thunder God, their cover version for Amon Amarth’s most powerful tune of all time in my opinion (you can check the original version HERE). I saw somewhere a guy saying this version should be called “Twilight of the Thunder Goddess”, and I agree one hundred percent as Melissa is on her more-than-perfect “beast mode”, resulting in a flawless performance by one of the most versatile singers of the new era of metal music.

If you still can’t imagine how the flammable fusion of such distinct styles like trance and Melodic Death Metal sounds like, you can take a full listen at Imploder on Spotify, but in case you’re already familiar with (and addicted to) Rage Of Light’s breathtaking music, don’t forget to follow Jonathan, Melissa and Noé on Facebook and to purchase your copy of their excellent new album from their own BandCamp page, from the Napalm Records’ webstore (in Europe or in the United States), or from your regular retailers like iTunes and Amazon. In the end, no one knows for sure if Rage Of Light play a heavier-than-usual version of trance music, or a modernized and electronic version of Heavy Metal, and that very interesting contrast is what makes their music so unique and vibrant. That’s the beauty of it, don’t you agree?

Best moments of the album: Fallen, Battlefront, Mechanicals and Twilight Of The Thunder God.

Worst moments of the album: In The Shadow.

Released in 2019 Napalm Records

Track listing
1. Light 1:48
2. Enraged 5:01
3. Fallen 4:32
4. I Can, I Will 4:36
5. Away With You 3:50
6. In The Shadow 6:47
7. Battlefront 4:30
8. Imploder (Instrumental) 5:58
9. Mechanicals 7:17
10. Nothingness 5:40

Digipak Edition/iTunes/Amazon bonus track
11.Twilight Of The Thunder God (Amon Amarth cover) 4:06

Band members
Melissa Bonny – lead vocals
Jonathan Pellet – vocals, keyboards, synth, drums programming
Noé Schüpbach – guitars, bass

Guest musician
Joëlle “Jo” Graz – cello

Album Review – The Agonist / Five (2016)

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An average album by a band that has the potential to offer a lot more than this, full of highs and lows and quite confusing at times.

Rating6

the-agonist_fiveI might be absolutely wrong in what I’m about to say and many of you won’t probably agree with me but, after the remarkable success achieved by the fantastic Eye of Providence last year, I believe Canadian Melodic Death Metal/Metalcore band The Agonist rushed things a bit in the release of Five, their fifth installment and by far the album containing some of the weakest tracks ever recorded by this iconic Montreal-based band. That doesn’t mean there aren’t good moments in Five, but the album as a whole lacks more creativity and punch, being full of highs and lows that end up making listening to it quite confusing at times.

Featuring an eccentric artwork by Brazilian artist Gustavo Sazes, and with all song names beginning with “THE” (in case you’re a person obsessed with minor details), Five doesn’t sound as fresh and inspiring as their previous albums, feeling at times as if they were “forced” by some contractual clause to release a new album in 2016, which kind of explains why you’ll find amazing compositions like “The Anchor and the Sail” mixed with forgettable songs such as “The Man Who Fell to Earth”. For instance, the album is unimaginatively called Five, a pedestrian name not even close to the beauty of Lullabies for the Dormant Mind or Eye of Providence. However, if there’s one thing that’s absolutely awesome from start to finish is the performance by the stunning blonde banshee Vicky Psarakis, who saved several parts of the album from being a disaster.

Despite its promising ominous intro, The Moment doesn’t live up to its hype, quickly turning into generic Melodic Metal with lazy guitars and drumming. As aforementioned, although Vicky continues to impress on vocals as she did in Eye of Providence (and she had a lot of fun recording the official video for this song which you can see at the end of this review, by the way), this is certainly one of the most unexciting songs the band has ever written. The Chain is a billion times faster and heavier, just the way it’s supposed to be, with Danny Marino and Pascal “Paco” Jobin doing an awesome job on guitars, and despite its backing vocals sounding a bit out of place the overall result is pretty good, with highlights to its interesting lyrics (“Can I have the attention of the class? / Open up your text / The city of Seven Hills / Another illustration of the autophagy / Put down your fiddle, Lady Liberty / And take a good long look”).

My favorite of all tracks, The Anchor and The Sail, is the good old The Agonist we got used to but with a more contemporary touch, perfectly representing the evolution in music every artist always search for. Its rhythmic and potent riffs and beats, together with Vicky kicking fuckin’ ass on both clean vocals and harsh screams (especially during the song’s enraged chorus), accredit this to become one of their biggest hits in a near future as soon as fans have time to absorb all the music in Five properly, which is not the case in The Game, another song with a promising intro that unfortunately fades into genericism, feeling more like filler than like an honest composition by the band. Then Vicky and drummer Simon McKay lead the musicality in the solid The Ocean through their beautiful vocal lines and harmonious and powerful beats, displaying the right amount of classic The Agonist blended with some interesting experimentations that could easily become a radio hit; followed by The Hunt, which albeit not a masterpiece in terms of creativity, at least it maintains a good flow of energy with Vicky once again stealing the show. And if you say I’m being too picky and that I only enjoy their old classics, let me tell you one of my favorite compositions in Five hands down is the devilish Blues-inspired semi-acoustic ballad The Raven Eyes, completely different from anything the band has ever done before and something I would love to see The Agonist replicating live. The stunning performance by Vicky, declaiming the song’s venomous lyrics embraced by a deliciously dark atmosphere and complemented by smooth piano notes and acoustic guitar lines, is the epitome of awesomeness.

the-agonist_2016I have absolutely no idea why the Nightwish-like instrumental track The Wake was included in Five. It’s not a bad composition, not at all, but it doesn’t add anything remarkable to the album except for almost three minutes to its total duration. I’m not even sure if I can consider this one of the worst songs of the album so out of place it is. Anyway, The Resurrection, one of the heaviest of all songs in Five, brings forward another promising start and excellent lyrics (“Take these coins off my eyes / I’m not ready to be put down / If only you could hear the screaming in my mind / Take these coins off my eyes”), with my only complaint being that it could have kept the same wrath from its first few seconds during the whole song. The Villain follows a similar pattern, losing a little of its punch halfway through it, but nothing that harms its overall electricity. Moreover, the amazing low-tuned sounds by bassist Chris Kells and the furious drumming by Simon provide all the necessary support for Vicky to keep firing her potent growls.

The last part of the album is just downhill in terms of quality and adrenaline, starting with The Pursuit of Emptiness, which is not heavy enough to be Melodic Death Metal nor light enough to be Hard Rock, getting lost in trying to incorporate too many different genres at the same time; whereas the worst of all songs, The Man Who Fell to Earth, would have been a complete disaster if it wasn’t for Vicky’s passionate vocals. Exhibiting the blandest instrumental parts of all tracks, you’ll forget this song exists as soon as it’s over. And the regular version of the album ends with a not-so-bad composition entitled The Trial, nothing truly remarkable but at least it adds some fire to an album below my expectations. And if you grab the limited edition of Five you’ll be treated to their cover version for Hozier’s Take Me to Church, a solid tribute to a contemporary classic, albeit I still prefer Vicky’s old cover songs available on her YouTube channel like her sensational version for “Stricken” by Disturbed.

One day Five might grow on me, but so far after tons of listens at different times and places I still don’t feel this is the best The Agonist could have done as the next step in their amazing career and I don’t believe what I wrote in this review will change much. You can listen to a preview of each track HERE and take your own conclusions (or you can obviously buy the full album), and although I’ll add a few of the songs from Five to my playlist together with all their previous classics, I think it will be hard for me to go and pick Five in its entirety to be part of the soundtrack for my commute, at the gym, at home or anywhere else. I don’t believe the band sold out like I read many people saying in the past week, but the fact that they released a new album when the previous one was still very fresh and vibrant doesn’t make a lot of sense. Well, let’s see what they will offer us next, and as long as it’s not called “Six” it will already be an advancement compared to Five.

Best moments of the album: The Anchor and the Sail, The Ocean and The Raven Eyes.

Worst moments of the album: The Moment, The Pursuit of Emptiness and The Man Who Fell to Earth.

Released in 2016 Napalm Records

Track listing  
1. The Moment 4:14
2. The Chain 3:12
3. The Anchor and the Sail 3:49
4. The Game 2:50
5. The Ocean 4:27
6. The Hunt 3:35
7. The Raven Eyes 5:34
8. The Wake 2:44
9. The Resurrection 5:22
10. The Villain 5:00
11. The Pursuit of Emptiness 4:03
12. The Man Who Fell to Earth 3:53
13. The Trial 4:33

Limited Edition Digipack bonus tracks
14. Take Me to Church (Hozier cover) 5:52
15. The Raven Eyes (acoustic version) 5:36

Band members
Vicky Psarakis – vocals
Danny Marino – guitar
Pascal “Paco” Jobin – guitar
Chris Kells – bass
Simon McKay – drums