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Tale Of A Wandering Soul

    
       
       
       
     
             
Asterise are an internationally based symphonic power metal project formed in 2018 by guitarist/bassist Bartlomiej Mezynski and keyboardist Dionysis Maniatakos - releasing the bands debut album 'Two Worlds' in 2022 with a line-up completed by drummer Slawomir Siwak, vocalists Tristan Harders (Terra Atlantica), Arnaud Menard (Scale Of Alkin), and Katharina Stahl (Terra Atlantica). For the bands sophomore album 'Tale Of A Wandering Soul' released in 2024, the above line-up remains intact along with three additional vocalists - Sozos Michael (Gloryhammer), Noah Simmons (Seven Thorns) and Garrett Campbell.    
             
Two years ago, Asterise blew my fucking socks off with a sensational array of symphonic power metal, the impact 'Two Worlds' made upon my world was colossal - it took me more than just one cold shower to cool down from the scorching hot music on show! And now the international collective are back with fifty five more minutes of simply stunning metal music, the band firing on all cylinders as 'Tale Of A Wandering Soul' meanders into life with the one minute tension fuelled intro 'Intro' - an air of an epic Hollywood blockbuster soundtrack filling the air! And when I say soundtrack, I mean 'Intro' is the music you'd hear playing over the opening credits with sweeping views of deserts, mountains and seas - the anticipation reaching fever pitch as the band launch headlong into (album opener proper) 'Twisted Ferryman'. And a sensational turn of pace, the power metallers accelerating to top speed in the blink of an eye, the urgency flowing outta 'Twisted Ferryman' flowing faster than electricity flows down a cable! Which is just as fast as the speed of light - 186,000 miles per second! Or, if a person could travel at the speed of light, they would circum-navigate the equator approximately seven and a half times in just one second! Beats Jules Verne's Phileas Fogg's eighty days by some margin eh!    
             
An absolutely jaw dropping start to 'Tale Of A Wandering Soul', Asterise actually increase the pace and urgency of the previous song as the band hurtle forward with 'Into Fantasy' - Asterise delivering a stunning (opening) one-two to make every one of the eight billion people on the planet sit up and take notice of a band in fantastic fucking form! And if you're a fan of bands such as Rhapsody Of Fire, Stratovarius or Sonata Arctica, you're gonna love Asterise - the new fresh face of symphonic power metal! The band may be new to the neighbourhood, but they're by no means green - they're red! Red fucking hot! Dropping a few gears 'Tale Of A Wandering Soul' enters hymn-like balladry with the immensely elegant 'Raven', the abrupt downturn in pace and power very sudden! How the band have managed to rein in all the energy of the two previous songs is beyond my understanding, Asterise letting it all back out as 'Wicked Dream' storms in at a hundred miles an hour! The band are in full flight here, soaring high into territory solely occupied by angels - the meld of symphonic and power metal an almighty majestic one! And for all the head bangers of the world, there's plenty on offer to keep your heads rocking back and forth - back and forth at extremely vigorous, and furious rates!    
             
The album's only just approaching the half way mark and I've dribbled so much I need to go change my trousers - tee shirt too! So excuse me for a moment, I'll be right back! Okay - I'm back, the album marching on with the first of two, seven minute plus songs - (the first) 'Drifting Into Darkness' accelerating outta the blocks at a tremendous speed, the band methinks, faster than ever before! Asterise are electrifying here, sending huge shockwaves right around the world, everyone everywhere feeling the effects - effects which are gonna be felt for a very long time to come! I really don't know how many cold showers I'll need after this one to cool down - and by "one", I mean the entire fucking album, the band turning the heat way up to melt the hearts of even the most diehard of metalheads! The title song 'Tale Of A Wandering Soul' returns elegance to the fore, Asterise blending a hymn-like serenity with the reined power of a ballad - 'Tale Of A Wandering Soul' (the song) also featuring the highest soaring vocal performance heard on the album! And bringing a distinctly eighties pop music feel to the album, the first twenty seconds of 'Golden Land' could easily have travelled here at eighty-eight miles an hour from the mid-eighties - the band proceeding to introduce the recent pop power metal phenomena spearheaded by the likes of Battle Beast, Beast In Black and Metalite. The upbeat, uplifting, high energy gallop is glorious, every listener, fan and follower everywhere boasting a face wide grin that stretches from ear to ear!    
             
'Call Of Whispers' is a one and a half minute mellow instrumental full of atmosphere, and anticipation - Asterise allowing everyone a breather from the all consuming onslaught of outstanding power metal, when in fact 'Call Of Whispers' acts as a wonderful intro to the second seven minute plus song, 'Awaken' striding into view melding the pop power metal feel of 'Golden Land' with the bands symphonic roots and a massive dose of melodic hard rock! Yes readers, hard rock - the band stretching their musical horizons further than ever! Is there no end to the surprises on offer from the bands sophomore album? It would appear not, Asterise maintaining an element of surprise in everything they do - and that includes (the current song) 'Awaken', as a totally unexpected turn of pace sees 'Awaken' roar off at high speed! And brining a sensational album to a close, 'Farewell' is a beautifully crafted hymn-like ballad that's perfectly placed to say both "goodbye" and "see ya later". All with a colossal amount of emotion and drive - drive that sees, or rather hears 'Farewell' progressing to a much rockier realm after two and a half minutes, Asterise delivering one final surprise as 'Tale Of A Wandering Soul' (the album) ends on a climactic high!    
             
Overall, a superb symphonic power metal swagger rammed full of pace, power and energy alongside some mellower, hymn-like ballad moments.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
Review is also featured at Metal-Roos    
             
             
Other Reviews    
             

           
           
Two Worlds      
           
"a fantastic journey of fast paced and infectious symphonic power metal, 'Two Worlds' is a great album" Read Review      
     
     
     
           
             
             
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