Review Summary: The unusual union of Matt Barlow's powerful voice with a new musical territory provides by Pyramaze results in a great album where the prog aura is replaced by pure feeling and wheight.
And there will be three years since the release of Immortal, Pyramaze’s third album, that marked the return of one of the most remarkable voices in heavy metal today to the band: Matt Barlow. The partnership of Matt Barlow to the power metal band has generated great expectations as to the sound of the album, bearing in mind the great difference between Barlow and his predecessor, Lance King (known for his work with The Balance Of Power).
After the first track, "Arise," we are introduced to a new Pyramaze. With "Year Of The Phoenix," we realized right away that the progressive vein conferred by vocal pitch in the band's melodies are replaced in part by an extra weight and a feeling that only the powerful and versatile voice of Barlow can provide. The play follows with "Ghost Light", keeping the weight on the inspired vocal melodies resulting in a powerful chorus.
The fourth song that shows up, "Touched by the Mara", opens with a beautiful melody from the keyboards and guitar competent Michael Kammeyer. This track keeps the weight, but this time measured. Feeling more cadenced and climates are the watchword of this age, which highlights, inevitably, the tone of Matt. Who won with this album, an entirely new terrain to explore her enviable vocal power. "A Beautiful Death" is endowed with a powerful riff, but otherwise, no other element of emphasis to this track over the others. What may cause some to ignore.
Thus, we are presented the best track on the album. “Legacy In A Rhyme " is a track to fill your eyes with tears, the impeccable work of Jonah Weingarten combined with Matt Barlow huge thrill to sing it make this the most beautiful music inspired performance from Barlow since " The Pierced Spirit " of Burnt Offerings.
The album goes on with "Caramon's Poem". The weight and the melody are united as one. The music flows naturally and one do not overlaps the other. Highlight the beautiful chorus and guitar solo that ends the song amidst the sound of a rainy weather. Announcing "The Highland", one of the best tracks on the album, behind only the "Legacy In A Rhyme". The hum of Matt Barlow amid fingering guitar heralds the epic tone to which the listener is transported. The Scotland Melody permeates the music, creating the perfect mood for the cries of Matt and interpretation of the beautiful lyrics.
"Shadow of the Beast" begins well. Until it flows into a power metal with strong melodies, keyboards and weight very well balanced. The good times of the band are divided between changes of pace to finish with a growing riff that ends the track. “Marching Through an Endless Rain" closes the album with an introduction very well done. After the end of the disc we have some points with certainty: The unusual union with Matt Barlow made Pyramaze to produce a wonderful album, which is not only the best album of Pyramaze, but as Matt's best performance since "Burnt Offerings." A disc that deserves to be not gone unnoticed and that many will find it the best way.
