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FAUST Act I: Prelude To Darkness
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FAUST Act I: Prelude To Darkness |
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| Stranger Vision are a power metal band from Italy formed in 2019, releasing their debut album 'Poetica' in 2021, sophomore album 'Wasteland' in 2022, and third album 'FAUST Act I: Prelude To Darkness' in 2024. | ||||||
| Inspired by the timeless story of Faust (written by German author Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in the early 1800's), the band delves into the profound themes of human ambition, the pursuit of knowledge and the eternal struggle between good and evil. 'FAUST Act I: Prelude To Darkness' is a concept album featuring the signature progressive power metal sound and complex orchestrations of Stranger Vision, culminating in a compelling and addictive forty five minutes of sensational music! Two years ago the Italian outfit released one of 2022's outstanding albums, and may well have repeated that feat here in 2024... | ||||||
| ...'FAUST Act I: Prelude To Darkness' (of which I will now refer to as just 'FAUST') opens with the one and a half minute atmosphere setting and tension building instrumental 'Prologue In Heaven', the album exploding into life with the tremendous pace of 'Strive'. Pounding the ground with immense force, Stranger Vision display top level power and purpose, 'Strive' hitting harder than a thousand wrecking balls in full flight! And the chorus too, sing a long-able or what! Simply stunning stuff from the Italian outfit - 'Nothing Really Matters' featuring additional vocals from Dream Theater frontman James LaBrie, maintains the majestic start 'FAUST' has made, raising the elegance level to new heights as 'Nothing Really Matters' adopts a mighty mid tempo anthemic stance. The bold, bombastic nature emanating from 'Nothing Really Matters' resembles the cinematic, emphatic surround sound that you'd experience at your local cinema while watching a Hollywood blockbuster on the big screen - Stranger Vision elevating their own sound to an incredible realm! | ||||||
| A stunning one-two to launch your new album, the band power on with an electrifying turn of speed, 'Look Into Your Eyes' racing off at a hundred miles an hour, the bands root progressive power metal sound shining as bright as a thousand suns! The infectious level is red hot too, 'Look Into Your Eyes' laced with a magnificent melodious intent and a chorus break to die for - the band oozing a heavy, power metal feel similar to legendary German metallers Rage. And with a much mellower stance, 'Two Souls' enters the fray boasting the soaring vocals of Angelica Patti, lead singer for the Italian rock band CrownTess - a staggering change of tone, tempo and feel at the one minute mark and 'FAUST' is hitting as hard as it has since the off! 'Two Souls' is now a barnstorming march of melodic metal, the dual male and female vocals working in perfect harmony - Patti's rock roar and Stranger Vision's Ivan Adami's menacing raspy belt! At less than a minute in length, 'Prologue Of John' sets a tension fuelled anticipative atmosphere as it segues straight into 'In Principium'. | ||||||
| Hitting just as hard as ever, 'In Principium' maintains the majestic elegance of the album, switching gears across the chorus break to become a foot to the floor, all out metal rampage, the band blending their power metal roots with the glorious sound of traditional heavy metal, gluing everything together with a progressive metal punch that's simply jaw dropping - the band storming on at full throttle with the rougher, tougher, yet nonetheless melodic 'Dance Of Darkness'. Featuring the bands signature sound, 'Dance Of Darkness' weaves a meandering path across metal territory visiting every corner, nook and cranny to deliver a pace changing, tempo changing thunderstorm! To say 'FAUST' is breath taking, may be one of the biggest understatements of the year, the amazement experienced two years ago with the bands previous album 'Wasteland' is put into the shade with what's pouring outta this one - 'The Covenant' a two minute instrumental packed to the rafters with elegance, pomp and grandeur, building the tension to unbearable heights as the band storm headlong into 'Carpe Diem'. | ||||||
| And when I say storm - I mean a force ten hurricane with a typhoon for a tail wind! Stranger Vision are at the top of their game right now, bustling forth with pace, power and small hints of aggression, menace and ferocity! Yes readers, that's right - aggression, menace and ferocity bubbling away under the surface of the bands progressive power metal excellence! 'Carpe Diem' also features a third guest vocalist too, Simone Bertozzi (guitarist for the Italian symphonic power metal band Ancient Bards). Everything the band have offered here is Album Of The Year material, 'Fly' rocketing off at high speed with thunder, fire and brimstone for fuel! Yet once again, the underlying melodious streak running through every song on offer is fucking fantastic, Stranger Vision cruising down the autostrada with supreme ease, ending 'FAUST' with the two minute eerie driven 'New Life', the band delivering an outro that acts as a warm down from a vigorous workout - which is what this album has been! From jaw dropping to head banging, adrenaline pumping to fists punching the air, there's been plenty of working out here for every listener, fan and follower! Bring on Act II I say! | ||||||
| Overall, a sensational forty five minute foray of barnstorming progressive power metal with a sky high level of elegance and majesty. | ||||||
| Review by Iron Mathew Collins | ||||||
| Reviewed for Metal Gods TV | ||||||
| Review is also featured at Metal-Roos | ||||||
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| "power metal thunder meets melodic heavy metal in emphatic style, creating an infectious and highly addictive listening experience" Read Review | ||||||
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