FRENZY FIRE

    

METAL & ROCK REVIEWS

    
             
HOME            
REVIEWS            
ARTISTS            
UPCOMING            
LINKS            
             

 

      
   
   
       
       

Illusion

    
       
       
       
     
             
Anthea are a symphonic metal band from the USA formed in 2015 by Cellador keyboard player Diego Valdez, and Angel Sinestro drummer Peter Vasquez. The band released their self titled E.P. in 2017, with their first full length album 'Illusion', emerging in 2020.    
             
Although the band class themselves as a symphonic metal band, they are much more than that. Their sound is a blend of the symphonic, power, epic, and glory genres of metal replete with bold operatic style vocals, spliced with black/death metal screams and screeches. 'Illusion' also features the sensational voice of Moonlight Haze vocalist Chiara Tricarico on one song - more on that later. Because right here, right now, the album explodes into life with the heavy hitting 'Reach'. Oozing the classic sound of power metal blended with symphonic overtures, Anthea stride out of the blocks with intent, purpose, and meaning. Lightning pace takes over the album in the mighty shape of the scorching 'Eclipse' - and also heralds the introduction of the black/death style vocals. The thunderous high velocity rampage of 'Eclipse' is in stark contrast with 'Reach', opening the bands sound to not only, a wide array of fans, but to a few different genres too. A beautiful keyboard intro brings 'Moirai' to life, a hard hitting mid tempo march - a march that also introduces the fantastic voice of the gorgeous Chiara Tricarico. The Moonlight Haze vocalist is on fine form, adding a touch of the fantastical to an already fantastic album. The opening threesome has been sensational - sending shockwaves of high magnitude right across the globe.    
             
The first three songs on the album have all featured a different sound - attracting fans from so many different genres. The band have not tied themselves to one solitary genre, stepping into the symphonic power metal arena with the title song 'Illusion'. Full of pace and high on energy, 'Illusion' (the song) gallops forth with so much force it's gonna mercilessly decimate small towns, leaving only desolation in its wake. 'The Light Divine' features Diego's Cellador band mate Eric Meyers providing a guitar solo, with 'The Light Divine' a glorious heavy/power metal romp. And I have to say, the first five songs have made a huge fucking impression. Each one has come flying at you from a slightly different musical stand point, smacking you firmly and squarely around the head. They are all heavy hitters, infectious, and instantly likeable.    
             
Blistering pace returns with the high velocity 'Discovery', cutting a savage path across the land. The head bangers of the world are gonna be ecstatic with this one - their heads nodding back and forth at an extreme rate of knots. Anthea have stunned at every twist and turn of their debut full length, and with three songs still left to go, there's plenty of time for Anthea to stun some more... And stun they do, by landing in the epic and glory genres of metal, forging the anthemic march of 'The Expedition'. Featuring a cinematic style sound, 'The Expedition' is big, beefy, and bombastic - a glorious march of anthemic epicness to put bands such as Powerwolf and Sabaton in the shade. And just when I thought I had the band figured out, that they couldn't stun or surprise me anymore - in comes 'Reflections'. Wonderful keyboards lead the way, a much mellower vocal performance than heard elsewhere, and a subtle choir like backing vocal. As 'Reflections' progresses, there is an epic build up, crescendo in style, towards what you think will be an all out riotous finish. But it just doesn't come - Anthea reining in the big finish, with keyboards playing us out. And to finish the album, an orchestral version of 'Moirai' - which needs no explanation or describing. Just sit back and enjoy this version...    
             
Overall, a fast paced and very infectious album of heavy hitting symphonic power metal with stunning twists and turns.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
Other Reviews    
             

           
           
Tales Untold      
           
"a thundering, turning, twisting journey of infectious and addictive heavy come power come symphonic metal" Read Review      
     
     
     
           
             
             
Top