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Biogenetic

      
         
         
         
     
             
Montany are a melodic power metal band from the Netherlands formed in 1989 releasing their debut album 'New Born Day' in 2002. After a number of line-up changes the band split up a couple of years later, reforming in 2011 and releasing sophomore album 'Biogenetic in 2013.    
             
Featuring nine songs across forty six minutes, 'Biogenetic' is quickly into its stride with (album) opener 'Of Fire And Ice', a flourish of keyboards sounding a little bit like dance/techno! And as 'Of Fire And Ice' strides on it becomes a solid hard rock come power come traditional metaller full of catchy rhythms and riffs. Montany are back and have tweaked their sound to become a more power metal orientated band that the hard rocking one of their early days, the band adopting the classic sound of late eighties and nineties European power metal. Title song 'Biogenetic' slows the tempo just a little bit, but is much heavier than the opener 'Of Fire And Ice', the band hitting the ground very hard indeed! 'Falling To Pieces' slows the tempo even more, an irresistible foot tapping guitar chug rising high in the air along with a vocal performance that reminds me a lot of (ex-Helloween singer) Michael Kiske.    
             
The longest song on the album at seven minutes in length, 'Without You' ups the tempo from the previous couple of songs, Montany introducing a blend of atmospheric hard rock into their soundscape. This is an awesome, epic journey through one of the best songs on offer, 'Miles Away' bringing an air of balladry to the fore. But for me, 'Miles Away' remains too heavy to be an all out ballad, so keep your lighters in pockets for now - but not for long! 'Angels Smile' fits the ballad bill perfectly, so whip those lighters out and hold them high as well as sway from side to side as Montany stroll from one side of ballad country to the other.    
             
And returning the classic sound of power metal to the fore, 'Change Of Seasons' is a thundering gallop of traditional heavy metal powered by immense energy and drive, the vocals taking on a menacing tone as the band roar louder than ever. This is catchy, infectious foot stomping melodic power metal straight out of the old days! 'Moment Of Faith' takes the honour as the best song on the album, and is rammed full of chunky, abrasive guitars and a massive Kiske-era Helloween influence. The pace and power here is the stuff of vigorous head banging, everyone around the world nodding their heads fast in order to keep up with the band. And bringing a fairly good album to a close, the six and a half minute long 'Egypt' sees, or rather hears a foot stomping doom metal sound descend upon the album, Montany pacing purposefully through a kind of power, doom, traditional metal landscape - 'Egypt' keeping listeners hooked right from the start until the very end!    
             
Overall, power metal and melodic metal combined to produce an album full of foot tapping hard rocking metal that will please fans of late eighties/early nineties European power metal.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Temple    
             
             
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