5/23/2022

10 minute read

    I used to be an avid fan of the newer genre, Symphonic Metal.  I foamed over bands like Epica, Delain, Within Temptation, After Forever, Stream of Passion, and the older catalog of Visions of Atlantis and Amberian Dawn.  I truly believed that this was the world’s best music.  I thought that these bands contained the best musicians since Bach, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky.  I grew up listening to classical music, even taking classes and studying music theory.  Symphonic Metal piqued these roots and moved me more than most music ever had before.  I saw Epica live in 2012 and it led me to start this blog and explore Metal in depth.  I’ve seen Nightwish, Delain, Xandria, Epica, and Within Temptation and it was an absolute blast to experience.  Symphonic Metal didn’t keep my interest much longer, however.  I became entranced by the sheer raw power, speeds, and lack of backing tracks of vocals of Power Metal.

    I gave up on a lot of Symphonic Metal, finding that new bands were contrived and new releases formulaic or boring.  I love the classics still, but my attention and admiration have gone to other genres. You can imagine my surprise when hearing the first single from “Pirates” by Visions of Atlantis.  Legion of the Seas blew me away. I had written this band off originally due to vocalist changes that disheartened me, and I quickly learned I made a mistake.  Visions of Atlantis bring Symphonic and Power Metal together with gooey cheesiness that I love. Pirates convinced me Symphonic Metal isn’t dead.  This is the best record of the genre since Dark Sarah’s “Grim”.  

    Visions of Atlantis pulls out all the classic Symphonic aspects, mixing with Clémentine Delauney’s Classic Soprano vocals, and Michele Guaitoli’s Power Metal belts and perfect vibrato.  “Pirates” is straight out of the realms of Nightwish and Blind Guardian.  While not a groundbreaking or immensely innovative album (Pirates and Metal go together like green chili and burritos), is it a fresh new take on an inundated genre.  It is epic and exciting beyond the usual keyboardist egoist-ridden records with long pointless interludes.  “Pirates” melds rhythmic driving riffs and drums with all-consuming melodies.  It flows effortlessly between power and airy piano.  Catchiness is also a huge factor with tracks like Melancholy Angels, Legion of the Seas, Clocks,  and Master of the Hurricane. Interesting Folk touches like flutes and horns come into play, breaking up the Power Metal instrumentation.  But, it is not over-saturated with layers, leaving room for two brilliant vocalists to thrive.  The harmonization is spectacular, some of the best I’ve heard.  This album has everything the Symphonic Metal fan desires, but can also cross over into the Power Metal head’s realm of battle music.  There’s something so reminiscent of Hans Zimmer, which is ironic because he wrote the soundtrack to the brilliant Pirates of the Caribbean.  This album ticks so many boxes for good Metal.

    “Pirates” surprised the hell out of me.  It has restored my faith in the Symphonic Metal genre and even brought me back to listening to it again.  It’s unpretentious, playable live, and brings a new dual vocal style that I haven’t heard since Floor Jansen first joined Nightwish.  It’s a familiar sound, but so refreshing to me.  I’ve liked newer Epica releases, Illumishade’s debut, Dark Sarah, and Ad Infinitum, but “Pirates” from VoA is a marriage of sound I’ve been dying for.  They delivered on every aspect I critique albums on; Emotion, execution, instrumentation, repetitiveness, movement, lyrical themes, and notation. It deserves an even more positive reception.

https://www.visionsofatlantis.at/