...SIŁA I PIĘKNO MUZYKI TKWIĄ W JEJ RÓŻNORODNOŚCI.


..::OPIS::..

I’d heard the name Hollow thrown around here and there in an almost hushed manner. I just knew this would be another cult thing I’d just eat up and I was right. Hollow is a band that sounds like your Tad Morose and Morgana Lefay, coutnrymen of theirs, though Hollow was actually around before Tad Morose adopted that sound anyway. So it’s just something in the water over there, I guess, that keeps them churning out this heavy, rhythmic, epic melodic metal.

Architect of the Mind is just a pulverizing listen full of chunky, badass riffs that don’t try too hard to sound retro or anything – it just rocks out with a big, fat guitar tone and a lot of propulsive, kinetic melody. It’s not too proggy or dense, but there is a cleverness to the arrangements, a snappiness and cohesion that really satisfies on repeat listens. It’s just the economical, no-bullshit way the songs are written, and how, even though there’s not a lot of variety on here, the songs end up distinguishing themselves and weaving into a whole that is enjoyable as fuck.

The vocals are probably the main sticking point. He’s got this high, Buddy Lackey-style whine that sometimes evokes a better Ozzy Osbourne. I think he’s got a lot of charisma and a great feel for hooky choruses, though he is a bit one note, really only having the ‘sing high and forceful’ approach for all of these songs. He’s good enough for it not to affect my enjoyment, though a singer with more dynamics might make this even better than it already is. But I understand this guy is the main driver of the band, so eh, I can’t fault him for wanting to do it his own way. And the DIY ethos makes this cooler, anyway.

The first few tracks are the most accessible, and “Cogito” is especially a first-rate fucking song, with one of the best choruses you’ll hear and a monster, groovy riff-set. “Rain” is excellent, too, a more sensitive song that lets the album breathe a bit. Later songs like “Deified” and “Shutdown” are denser and need some more time to sink in. The whole thing seems like it’s influenced by 80s greats like Queensryche and Crimson Glory. It doesn’t sound like them, but you can hear a similar exquisite sense of melody and care in how the songs are arranged, so it’s more in the songwriting ethos and spirit, which are more important to the overall substance of the work.

Architect of the Mind is a badass album of smart, no-nonsense power metal, so get this instead of whatever dreck Sabaton put out and get some class in your listening roster. These guys have a new one out this year, too, so that'll be fun to look out for.

Empyreal



..::TRACK-LIST::..

1. Transcending Sorrow 4:28
2. Cognito 3:16
3. Rain 4:45
4. Shadow God 4:38
5. Secluded Dreams 4:28
6. Walls Of Confusion 4:28
7. Binary Creed 5:07
8. Deified 4:42
9. Alone In Darkness 4:16
10. Shutdown 3:41
11. Father 4:23



..::OBSADA::..

Andreas Stoltz - Guitars, Vocals
Thomas Nilsson - Bass
Urban Vikström - Drums
Marcus Bigren - Guitars



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml8GEF5DdsM



SEED 14:30-23:00.
POLECAM!!!