KEMILON - Twisted Storm
April 27, 2012, 12 years ago
(Maple Metal)
More prog than advertised power metal, these French Canadians inhabit a similar territory to KAMELOT, technical, yet majestic constructions relying on a healthy dose of keyboards and speedy guitars, which too often also sound like synths. Just a little too much polish/gloss (class?). ‘Sons Of Lies’ is the first standout moment, a lively, smooth delivered vocal atop relentless drumming that descends into death metal gruffness for a brief moment. While ‘The Gates Of Heavy Metal’ sounds like a DREAM EVIL/MANOWAR inspired gallop, in fact, it comes off as a poppy FALCONER, with keyboards. A solo piano introduces ‘The Glow’, an old school power ballad that ends much as it began. Just when the disc was in need of some energy, there’s ‘The Revolution’, a full blown RHAPSOODY whirlwind. The title track is the most adventurous offering, from the restrained key intro, racing along (apart from the classical, sugar-plum fairy bit about 4 minutes in), towards the (rare) high pitched, culminating scream. Love the 70s prog key flourish in the otherwise forgettable ‘Warriors Of Space’, bringing back memories of KANSAS, just for a second. Lots of dazzling showmanship, but not much in the way of memorable hooks. As a debut, admirable enough, but still have some distance to go before being considered in the same league as the genre’s kingpins.
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