FRENZY FIRE

    

METAL & ROCK REVIEWS

    
             
HOME            
REVIEWS            
ARTISTS            
UPCOMING            
LINKS            
             

 

     
   
   
       
       

Master Of Illusions

    
       
       
       
     
             
Tragedian are a power metal band from Germany formed in 2002 by guitarist Gabriele Palermo, releasing the bands debut album 'Dreamscape' in 2008. Four more albums have followed - 'Decimation' (2013), 'Unholy Divine' (2017), 'Seven Dimensions' (2021), and 'Master Of Illusions' released in 2023...    
             
...featuring a sound that harks back to a golden era for power metal evolution, when bands such as Helloween, Running Wild, Grave Digger, and (pioneers) Accept were setting the world on fire, lighting a path for the likes of Tragedian to follow. And is it any coincidence that Tragedian, and all the aforementioned bands are from Germany! Course not - Germany has the strongest legacy for producing power metal bands, with Tragedian perfectly positioned to maintain that legacy. During their two decade career, Tragedian have shared a stage with Burning Point, Cryonic Temple, Mob Rules, Paragon and The Unity, and performed at the 2022 Wacken Open Air festival. So let's get to the bands new album - an album that explodes into life with the fast paced 'Into The Light', and a sound that resonates with classic European power metal! The band are full of energy, hurtling across the land with hunger and desire, banging the heads of every listener, fan and follower around the world. What a blistering start!    
             
Remaining in top gear, Tragedian power on with the faster 'Illuminate', and a level of head bang ability that's just smashed through the fucking roof! The band are electric across the albums opening brace, fizzing and sizzling with red hot energy, planting smiles a mile wide on the faces of listeners everywhere. And without pausing for a breath, the album rolls on with the more anthemic sounding 'Eternal', and a pace a little slower than the albums opening double! And when I say slower, I mean dropping a single gear - the intensity remaining as powerful as when the album began. Picking up the pace and moving forward with more of a purpose than 'Eternal', 'Against The Storm' is a power metal rampage of intense proportions! The head bang ability is sky high, the infectious level off the charts, and the amount of energy is simply unbelievable! The band a mesmerising blur of up tempo speed and melodious intent.    
             
And still not slowing down to take a breather, 'Master Of Illusions' motors on with the most infectious song heard so far, 'The Chance' a gloriously happy sounding song that will surely bring a smile to the faces of every listener, fan, follower and concert goer everywhere! The head bangingly addictive rhythm is gorgeous, involuntarily rocking heads back and forth! Bet your head is rocking? Yep - thought so! Blending traditional heavy metal with their root power metal sound, Tragedian storm on with the bustling 'Escaping Shadows' - and a brashness not heard previously. But even with its more brash nature, 'Escaping Shadows' remains as infectious and melodious as every other song on offer. Fucking brilliant stuff form the German outfit. And with an incredible increase in energy and oomph, the band roar on with 'Exodo' - power metal pomp at its highest level since the album began! 'Exodo' is a barnstormer, elevating the levels of happiness among listeners to "out of this world" heights! What a song! What an album! And what a band!    
             
Bringing to the surface a boisterous but nonetheless melodic sound, 'Emotions' is the nearest the album has gotten to a mid tempo pace - that is until 'Emotions' passes the one minute mark! And then the band accelerate tenfold, 'Emotions' becoming a speed fest of the highest order! Tragedian keep changing gears 'til the songs conclusion, but what a very different approach to the rest of the album. An album which smells very strongly of power metal - non more so than the old school sound of 'Freedom'. The band echoing the urgency of power metallers Helloween, and their early days eagerness of songs such as 'Ride The Sky' and 'How Many Tears'. The energy and oomph laden gallop is a tremendous head banging opportunity, Tragedian giving every single metalhead a speedster to seriously test the flexibility of neck muscles! And with a major shift in tempo, the band enter hymn-like balladry for the albums finale 'Obscured Dreams'. And a slow wander across the land as all the energy, oomph and intensity of the album up to this point dissipates rapidly.    
             
Overall, a blistering power metal romp, full of energy and a top shelf head bang ability.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal-Roos    
             
             
Top