Hey, Lance King is back! The ex-Balance Of Power vocalist was asked to lend his voice to the debut release of Pyramaze. Intromental Management, The Danish progressive power metal band’s agency, had been blown away by the instrumental material they received from the guys and came up with the sublime idea to put a high class singer on this. Result? Read on…
A bit more than two years ago, guitarist Michael Kammeyer was disappointed as to where his current band Damion, with whom he had recorded two demo CDs, were going. Lack of attention from outside the local scene in Aabenraa, the man’s home town, made him decide to search for new horizons and leave the band. He wanted to try his luck in the melodic power metal scene – Damion was more of a black metal band – and founded Pyramaze, which quickly expanded to a trio when local drummer Morten Gade and bass player Nils Kvist jumped on the bandwagon. Keyboardist Jonah Weingarten followed quickly, an American who Kammeyer had met through the Internet. Many rough and demo recordings were air mailed over the Atlantic Ocean from Denmark to the US and back and phone conferences were the forced replacement of band gatherings. Nevertheless, enough material got finished to start thinking of an actual debut album, so early 2003, Weingarten flew over to lay down the instrumental tracks in the studio with the support of producer Jacob Hansen, who talked Intromental into taking the band under their ever widening wings. When they heard that Kammeyer was to do the vocals as well, they suggested to use an experienced and renowned vocalist, who would be able to add an extra dimension to the band’s music. Enter Lance King.
And boy, what a debut album “Melancholy Beast” has become! King’s voice – a mixture of Geoff Tate and James LaBrie - and enough complexity to make progressive metal freaks drool over this, an high dose of melody and power to satisfy even the most exigent power metal fan and an audiophile-safe glass clear sound. The album might need a spin or two before its beauty becomes audible, as it did with me, but songs as powerful opener “Sleepy Hollow”, adrenaline riser “The Journey”, “Legend” with its haunting chorus and “Until We Fade Away” (a ballad with a great message) should quench the thirst of those looking for instant satisfaction as well. And let’s not forget to mention the original artwork by fantasy and science fiction illustrator Rob Alexander. You asked for the result? What do you think of ‘an impressive debut album by a band we will definitely hear more from in the future’! (
SL)
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Metalrob4662
Lance King is awesome! what a great cd I had to play it like 5 times I couldnt stop listening to it..One of my favorites in the last few yrs of Metal releases! what a debut
Gordy
A great debut album with Lance King on vocals. What more can a Balance Of Power fan like me ask for?
RockSLUG
Well-deserved five star review. This is the type of prog metal I really dig. Heavy, crunchy, and is never overcome with technical masturbation. The melodic lines and Lance King's clear-as-a-bell vocals shine.
WOLF 359
After one play through of this album i knew that this band had something.Well played ,melodic prog metal similar to Balance Of Power , only natural seeing as Lance King is their vocalist but and heres a big but they still have their own identity. Listen to opening track Sleepy Hollow or the title song Melancholy Beast , and here intricate musical play ,a pounding rhythmn section and a tight vocal peformance . A great debut , the second cd should be a killer.
VaDeR
Gave this album a few spins...
To be honnest.
This album is good.
The vocals are ok..but with the ex-ballance of Power vocalist I already new that;)
Still I keep missing the feeling I hopes to find.
The sons are all medicore...not much dynamics in there.
As if the songs can' t get hold of my attention.
I guess this is just because it' s this talented bands first album......nex chance will be better I bet;)
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