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Seven

    
       
       
       
     
             
Feline Melinda are a melodic metal band from Italy formed in 1986 by singer/guitarist Rob Irbiz and (the bands former) bass player Andy De Santis - the current line-up consisting of Irbiz, drummer Chris Platzer, guitarist HeadMatt and (new) bass player Gschnell. The band have released four albums to date - 'Feline Melinda' (2004), 'Morning Dew' (2008), 'Dance Of Fire And Rain' (2014), and 'Seven'...    
             
...emerging in 2024 featuring eleven songs across a forty four minute run time. The bands sound has been described as a "mixture of power and pop metal with a touch of symphonic rock and AOR" - a mix that you'll agree is eclectic, yet also highly melodious, infectious and catchy! And right from the off, Feline Melinda immediately grab listeners attentions with the energetic and up tempo 'Welcome To The Show' - the band planting their feet firmly on the monitor to adopt the classic pose of traditional heavy metal! The galloping nature of 'Welcome To The Show' is head noddingly addictive, every listener grinning from ear to ear at such a mind blowing opening gambit - Feline Melinda keeping the pedal well and truly pressed to the metal, surging on with the harder hitting 'Blinded By The Beauty'. The albums first two songs have been full on and in your face heavy metal, hinting at old school yet remaining modern and fresh.    
             
Barnstorming stuff then from the Italian veterans, the band revelling in pouring a phenomenal happy mood onto everyone - the pace quickening for 'In The Shadow Of The Moon', a slight progressive metal feel rising high in the air! Along with clenched fists too, every listener, fan and follower punching the air to salute a glorious galloper that's gonna vigorously bang the heads of every metalhead around the world! And without breaking their stride, Feline Melinda power on with 'Can You Feel My Eyes On You', the album an unstoppable roller coaster of intense enjoyment - the band oozing an incredible amount of energy! Energy that's limitless, for 'Seven' is a breathless barrage of majestic, and immensely infectious metal that just runs and runs - running on at pace with the captivating 'Seventh Heaven'. Featuring Italian singer Doris Albenberger, 'Seventh Heaven' breaks down genre border walls to become equally attractive to rock fans as it is to metal ones, the sound of 'Seventh Heaven' sharing the same platform as bands such as Battle Beast, Beast In Black and Metalite in terms of fusing an emphatic pop music punch into their steadfast heavy metal roots!    
             
I'm telling ya readers, I haven't stopped smiling since the album began, Feline Melinda one of the years biggest discoveries, dropping listeners jaws to the floor with an almighty thud! There's simply surprise after surprise here, 'Jolly Joker' the most emphatic song heard so far - punching much harder than world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson in his prime! The band are so full of energy, have they all been at the Red Bull (other energy drinks are available)! 'Cause whatever they're drinking, please don't stop! And to be honest, 'Jolly Joker' is a party anthem of the most magical kind, the band casting a spell over every listener everywhere! A spell that's all consuming, keeping everyone hooked on the bands incredibly infectious metal come rock - 'Black Sun' picking up the baton and surging forth with purpose, poise and pomp! And pace too - the band parading the iconic gallop of traditional heavy metal, rocking the heads back and forth of every listener, fan, follower and concert goer. 'Seven' is a tremendous tour de force, every song heard so far displaying an infectious nature that's simply out of this world - 'She's Like A Thunderstorm' maintaining an unbroken level of intensity that began minute one with song one! And at the fastest pace heard so far too - 'She's Like A Thunderstorm' scorching the earth as it hurtles across the land at incredible speed! This is one song that's gonna send the worldwide mosh pits into fucking overdrive, every head banger in the world banging their head as if their life depended on it! Simply breath taking stuff...    
             
...stuff that ain't over yet, the album roaring on with the biggest bombastic barrage heard so far - 'Higher' knocking every listener into next week! The force pouring outta 'Higher' is much greater than the force used by the Jedi's - Feline Melinda powering the universe with their latest album! An album that still has two more songs to go, 'More Than Ever' returning the emphatic pop punch heard earlier - albeit at a much more frantic pace! The band are so full of energy it's almost unbelievable, 'More Than Ever' keeping listeners attentions focused on the city of Bolzano in the South Tyrol province of Northern Italy - the home of Feline Melinda! Famed for its Canederli, Bolzano now has a second delicacy to offer the world - melodic heavy metallers Feline Melinda. A band truly on fire, the four piece finish 'Seven' with the most elegant song on offer, 'Before The Dawn' coming at you from the hymn-like corner of the hard rock genre, the anthemic swagger encircling everyone everywhere with open arms!    
             
Overall, an incredibly infectious and magical heavy metal album with tonnes of head bang ability and a catchy nature second to none.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Vlad Promotion    
             
             
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