Review Summary: Delicious metal for the melodic masses.
Borealis bring a consistent mainstream metal sound with enough progressive metal inspiration to harken back to Redemption’s Snowfall on Judgement Day. With heavy riffs aplenty, Borealis also share powerful vocals, but get nowhere near as technical as progressive bands often do instrumentally. However, the abounding spectacular solos are intricate, and with sky ascending, dynamic choruses there’s magnetic frontal momentum. This is well done melodic metal, and whereas I find Tremonti releases run out of steam, Borealis keep on chugging. However, double bass pedals are stomped on and riffs bring more than just chugs. There’s a smidgen of power metal style here, but not enough to say it’s cheesy.
The marriage of various genres tunnels out a slot where Borealis fit snugly. Each portion is dished out with ease and elegance. The songwriting is quite simple, but effective none the lesser. Focusing on verses with an edge and larger than life choruses, melodies pack a wallop. Basically, they’re heavy, and with a singer that sounds gorgeous the tracks are a lovely listen. The fullness of Matt Marinelli’s vocals cannot be understated, and it pairs perfectly with the thick guitar tone.
My only gripe would be that Borealis aren’t very unique. There’s a symphonic aspect here that often sounds incredibly home produced, and also some quick water drop synths that sound retro. Tracks play along in the same predictable fashion, with razor edged riffs until choruses smash in and vocals take center stage. There’s some slower tracks like Face of Reality and Burning Tears (the latter includes the singer from Exploring Birdsong), and outside of that tracks explore the same heavy motif and fun solos. It’s a consistent sounding album with minimal variety for better or worse.
Matt’s singing style really is the entire draw of the band. I could name plenty of albums this year that were much more convincingly progressive and technical in the realm of progressive metal. Illusions is neither here nor there, and refuses to fall off the edge into any specific pool. It’s possible a listener may be frustrated with the experience - hoping for a complete nosedive - remarkably, Borealis make so-called “generic” music become outstanding. I implore they don’t require acute variety to stand out. Their singer is marvellous, bringing shades of Jorn and Avantasia; the old school, almost classic rock sounding vocalist brings plenty of intrigue. There are moments where riffs aren’t quite as creative as they could be, but it’s expected that Matt will fill the track with some impassioned singing. Tracks remain easy on the ears throughout the length of the album despite heavy, helicopter riffs.
Illusions is a good time all around and fairly entertaining, quite repetitive but not worse for the wear. It won’t be the most memorable album of the year, but fans of melodic metal should absolutely love this. Guitar solos never get boring, and the rhythms here are generally very catchy. You can’t go wrong, a generalizing statement to be sure, but I’ll leave it here. With nothing downright bad, there’s a lot of good here and it’s worth exploring.
