![]() ![]() Although individual components of IV step into that professional angle, the weaker drum sound and very pedestrian performance from Ramin Rahimi keeps Angband in more of a burgeoning level status, as there’s a predictable or almost stiff aspect to “Atena” and “Cyrus the Great” that hopefully gets rectified on future recordings. Ridged rhythms allow “Children of War” to be another standout, the heavier parts consistent with the battle theme, while the cleaner instrumental sections allow for some dynamic contrasts, including Tim’s rearing back and going for the money note screams. Stunted delay pedal effects give “Insane” that proper chaotic feel, before the heads down power riffs and sinister mid-tempo groove get the energy going. An easy way to garner that possible lost interest though is to add a key member to the mix – which is the case for IV as Pharaoh / ex-Control Denied singer Tim Aymar joins the fold as a seasoned professional, ensuring at the very least that the vocal presence will be top notch and memorable throughout the course of these nine tracks.īeyond the trio’s standard electric compliment of guitars, bass and drums, Angband inject Persian instruments to provide that exotic atmosphere when called for – making “Visions in My Head” and “Mirage” two standouts in that regard, the latter also featuring a very soothing, reflective lead break from Mahyar Dean that builds into Gary Moore/David Gilmour-like activities. ![]() Injecting elements of Persian traditional music to the mix, it’s been eight long years since their last record Saved from the Truth. ![]() Recommended to power metal fans who are interested in the metal of the world - and who do not judge all music by the standard of modern western conditions.Iranian power/progressive metal act Angband have been a stable part of the Pure Steel/Pure Underground roster since their 2008 debut album Rising from Apadana. Vocalist Ashkan Yazdani has a very special style of singing - maybe it's a Persian singing style, in which case I have nothing but respect for it, but it does take some getting used to, especially on tracks like "Astral Hallucination" and "Forsaken Dreams". The album would certainly have benefited from a more tight performance, as the lack of tightness disturbs the listening experience a bit. My major problem is that Angband is very untight in certain places on this album, and I wonder if they didn't have time to do second takes. Also, we have to, in all fairness, remember that rock music is not exactly something that the totalitarian Islamistic government in Iran appreciates, so I can imagine that top notch and hyper modern recording studios are not commonplace there. The production is quit elo-fi, and perhaps substandard by power metal criteria, but I actually kind of like that, because the more fuzzy garage-like sound gives this release a more rocky edge, which I think that a lot of über polished power metal lacks nowadays. Tracks like "Easy to Believe", "Battle For.", "Fate and the Fear" and the Schuldineresque "Truth of Lies" are quite good. That is, he gets things done effectively without having to show off and do a lot of guitar wankery. Mahyar Dean especially does a good job on the guitars I think - he certainly masters the art of keeping things simple. I think that most of the musical ideas work quite well on this album - even if it gets a bit monotonous at times. I had hoped for power metal with a lot of Persian elements in it, but on "Visions of the Seeker", Angband offers mainly American-style power metal, especially inspired by early Iced Earth it seems (I've read that there are some Persian elements on this album, but they've escaped my ears so far). ![]()
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