Genre: Heavy Metal/Hard Rock
Country: Norway
Label: Dying Victims Productions
Year: 2023
Norway’s finest return five years after A Leap Through Matter, with another masterpiece of pure hard rock/heavy metal thunder, entitled Echoes Of Journeys Past, even if sometimes you’d think that the LP was recorded in a time before the term “Heavy Metal” really were used by anyone. Closer to Canadian prog masters Rush than ever, the brilliant quartet created an album that couldn’t be described better than its own title reveals but also explores through many sub genres, styles, sounds and boundaries. Certainly analog and 70’s driven the record is based on melody, atmosphere and focused on top notch songwriting. Actually every word, every riff, every hit of the drum services the storytelling as every song is a little tale from the past, that the melancholic aura that is dominating the album’s spirit makes it more dramatic and mysterious. You can name it retro, vintage, proto metal, nostalgic or what the hell you want but you can’t ignore how vigorous and full of energy and above all magical Echoes Of Journeys Past sounds. Captain Beyond inspiration, Rainbow catchiness, Thin Lizzy rhythms, Blue Öyster Cult elements, some N.W.O.B.H.M. hints here and there and a plethora of progressive parts can built along with tremendous keyboards, a warm voice, some electrifying guitars and an epic touch a giant record that can stand next to mythical albums coming from the 70’s or the 80’s as Flight don’t lack originality or songwriting skills and at the same time building a new avant-garde, a Heavy Metal defending front line with Hallas and Tanith among others; bands that will carry the wage and the heritage of pure and true Hard Rock/Heavy Metal to the future generations…Highlights: “Hypatia”, “Valley of the Moon”, “Comet of Gold”, “Path to Nowhere (Elysian Fields)” and the grandiose finale “Mystic Mountain”.