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X-Gate E.P.

      
         
         
         
     
             
Virtual Symmetry are a progressive metal/rock band from Switzerland formed in 2009 by guitarist and multi instrumentalist Valerio Ęsir Villa. The band has varied influences ranging from ambient to fusion, pop and contemporary music, with characteristics of the epic and dynamic, with cinematic atmospherics to take the listener on a magical and fantastical journey. The bands debut album 'Message From Eternity' was released in 2016, featuring guest musicians Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater), Alessandro Del Vecchio (Edge Of Forever, Hardline) and Marco Pastorino (Secret Sphere, Hate Tyler, Temperance). Following a string of successful live performances, the band returned to the studio to write and record a new E.P. ... a 3 song, 32 minute long journey of immense emotion and dynamic tension.    
             
Featuring a lyrical theme surrounding mans evolution, space exploration and the search for a better future, the E.P. revolves around the X Gate, a door way to a new form of life. A crescendo building intro, featuring a superb keyboard passage, sets the tone for what is to follow, a journey of discovery and intrigue, superb vocals and musicianship of the highest order. 'Eyes Of Salvation' is a mix of bombast and cinematic delivery, jolting the listener into sitting up and taking notice of the creeping aural tension that is taking over the airways. 'Eyes Of Salvation' is the shortest song on offer, yet its presence is felt with keyboards and guitars working together in perfect harmony. The clean and clear vocal delivery is bright, breezy and very powerful.    
             
'Alchymera' clocks in at over fourteen minutes in length, moving the listener onto the next stage of the journey. Introducing elements of hard rock, 'Alchymera' is a thumping and hard hitting song that pushes the boundaries of the progressive and hard rock genres to their limits. Fourteen minutes is long for a song...the listener is kept entertained with spoken word passages, narrating the story of the search for the X Gate. The vocal range of singer Marco Pastorino floats effortlessly across a number of rock genres and, at times, is operatic in its delivery.    
             
For the final song, Virtual Symmetry add another dimension to their sound, by bringing in a female vocalist, Diane Lee from progressive metal band Lost Journey. Rather than just a simple and formulaic duet, the two vocalists are almost at battle with each other, pushing, cajoling and challenging to get the upper hand. 'Elevate' is a symphonically charged masterpiece of musicianship and is sure to bring Virtual Symmetry to the fore front of the progressive genre of music. "best 'til last" is the most appropriate way to describe the third and final song on the E.P. . . it's appeal is infectious and will have fans of hard rock, classic rock and progressive rock salivating at the mouth. If you have never heard of Virtual Symmetry, you have now...their new E.P. is gonna bring the band to a whole new audience and a new level of popularity.    
             
Overall, an exquisite and elegant journey through an aural delight of the symphonic, operatic and cinematic styles of rock music.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metalmessage    
             
Review is also featured at Metal Gods TV    
             
             
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