FRENZY FIRE

    

METAL & ROCK REVIEWS

    
             
HOME            
REVIEWS            
ARTISTS            
UPCOMING            
LINKS            
             

 

      
   
   
       
       

The Golden Pentacle

    
       
       
       
     
             
Magic Opera is the solo symphonic power metal project of Derdian keyboard player Marco Garau - the band completed by vocalist Anton Darusso (Wings Of Destiny), guitarists Gabriel Tuxen (Seven Thorns) and Matt Krais (ShadowStrike), and Marco's Derdian band mates Salvatore Giordano (drums) and Enrico Pistolese (bass). The bands debut album 'The Golden Pentacle', was released in 2021...    
             
...and is a concept album based on an original story written by Marco set in Amtork, a land far away, people were living in peace and harmony under the leadership of King Leiber. Everything was fine, until a feud between two mighty wizards - Lord Kama, a loyal friend of the King, and Sir Dohron, an evil wizard tired of all the love and happiness. He conjured a plan to bring suffering and slavery to the land by searching for an ancient and powerful magic item - the Golden Pentacle, hidden many years ago by Amtork's ancestors. The Golden Pentacle has incredible power, with anyone who has it becoming invincible. And so the battle between good - Lord Kama - and evil - Sir Dohron - begins...who will win?    
             
The battle for the Golden Pentacle takes place over eleven songs, stretched out over an incredible sixty five minutes of theatrical opera - with opera, defined as "a dramatic work, set to music for singers and instrumentalists". And that is exactly what you get here - dramatic and tension filled songs, tonnes of music to enjoy, and a performance of outstanding musicianship from seasoned musicians. Opera has never been my thing, but should this Magic Opera come to town, I'd be the first person in the queue for a ticket. 'The Golden Pentacle' unfolds like a TV soap opera - with each song a new episode, or "act" if you wanna use the correct opera lingo. So what do you get with this operatic performance?    
             
Tension, excitement, fantasy, and magic - that's what! Listening to 'The Golden Pentacle' (album), my mind easily crafted images of a huge stage production, replete with costumes and scenery changes. The story's intro, the opening song 'The Golden Pentacle', has chiming bells and the clip-clop of trotting horses, followed by a tension fuelled, crescendo building passage that explodes into a fast and furious power metal gallop. Fans of bands such as Avantasia, Stratovarius, and the works of Luca Turilli, are likely to drool, such is the albums emphatic oomph!    
             
As the album (or story), progresses (or unfolds), we are treated to a glut of neoclassical excellence. 'Elixir Of Life' is a majestic symphonic power metal march, 'Keepers Of The Night' is a fast paced highly entertaining and catchy romp, with surprises all around - moments that are choir like and hugely bombastic, resembling a big finish. But the story is far from finished! 'Never-Ending Pain' continues the pace sprinkling menace and terror everywhere, and the sudden terrifying moment when guttural harsh vocals take centre stage.    
             
'Fight For The Victory' brings mid tempo, anthemic melodic metal to the fore, and you get a real sense of a rabble rousing call to arms moment. Scorching pace lights up the album in the shape of the feisty 'The Secret Of The Sea', swinging from all out pace to mellower keyboard/guitar led passages. 'The Sacred Legacy' is the longest song on offer, chiming in at eight minutes in length, and is an epic, magical adventure of full on and fairly heavy symphonic power metal. 'Free Again' returns the feisty nature of earlier, ploughing forward at typical European power metal pace.    
             
Power balladry makes an appearance in the story, with 'The Other Side' an emotionally performed piece of theatre. 'The Other Side' is definitely a lighters, or flambeaus, in the air moment - a bold and mighty majestic swagger with the line "I'll protect my people from the other side" a very proud and gallant statement. 'Thief Of Souls' ignites lightning pace, steaming ahead at full tilt. And as the album reaches its climax, interest and attention has not waned one little bit, with the last hour totally intoxicating. 'Until The End Of Time' brings the curtain down on a sparkling performance. A real swashbuckler of a tune, 'Until The End Of Time' is a show stopping finale, and also features the guttural harsh vocals of earlier. 'The Golden Pentacle' (the album) is an early runner for Album Of The Year, and should Marco and the band ever bring the opera to the big stage - I'll be there. Just try and stop me!    
             
Overall, a spectacular performance, featuring big bold tension filled songs that portray symphonic power metal in a glorious light - an undoubtedly great album.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
Other Reviews    
             

           
           
Battle Of Ice      
           
"an incredible performance of superbly crafted symphonic power metal, 'Battle Of Ice' is an infectious and intoxicating listening pleasure" Read Review      
     
     
     
           
             
             
Top