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Reign In Metal
Zodiac :  Metal Reputation : 1
Join date : 2014-02-25
Location : Global Metal Domination
 | |  Astral Domine - Arcanum Gloriae (2014) Album Review | |
Astral Domine - Arcanum Gloriae (2014)
Bakerteam Records -- Running Time 58:05
SCORE
8.5/10
So here is one of the albums that's been patiently waiting in my never decreasing pile of releases. That's definitely not a reflection on its quality, I just don't have the hours to do everything! I think I've said before that when it comes to Symphonic, Cinematic & Epic Power Metal one country stands head and shoulders above everyone else. That country is Italy and 'Arcanum Gloriae' is the debut album from, wait for it....Astral Domine from Italy.
If Rhapsody in any of their guises, past or present, are the band that get you moist then this album is going to be a hugely welcome addition to your collection. There is a slight difference though. Astral Domine very rarely go 'all guns' blazing' with their music. This is very much more laid back, reminiscent of the quieter tracks on Rhapsody's 'Symphony Of Enchanted Lands II - The Dark Secret". Some might question the validity of a band that does sound extremely close to Rhapsody in places, Fabio Leone even guests on the track 'Where Heroes Die', but it's all done so well that it's difficult not to get caught up in its majesty. There is no point in me telling you what the lyrical content on 'Arcanum Gloriae' is about. Just look at the beautiful cover art, influenced by TV series 'Game Of Thrones' and you'll know immediately that Astral Domine aren't reinventing anything but it's all done so damned well.
If you are a fan of this genre, then you'll also be prepared for every band member to be, pretty much, a master of their respective instruments with many years of training and practice behind them. Vocalist Marco Scorletti is straight out of the Fabio Leone/Alessandro Conti school of singing, has been trained by some of the best and is now a teacher himself, likewise Luca Gagnoni & Francesco Delogu (guitars), Davide Di Patrizio (drums), Yeshan Gunawardana (keyboards) and Mirko Margiotti (bass) are all incredible. It's not just technical ability though, all of them enhance their performances with heaps of emotion and it stirs the soul!
I love classical music and cinematic scores, so the mixture of those styles together with my passion for Heavy Metal means I'm a complete sucker for this particular genre and Astral Domine have released a winner as far as I'm concerned. Of course, I'm not going to suggest that everyone out there will love it as well. Mainland Europe absolutely adores this sort of music but the UK and US...well, not to the same extent, with many thinking it pompous and overblown. However, if you do share my love of all things Epic, Italian and Heavy then 'Arcanum Gloriae' is an album to revel in!
http://www.astraldomine.altervista.org/
https://www.facebook.com/astraldomine
https://mobile.twitter.com/Astral_Domine
https://www.youtube.com/user/AstralDomine
http://www.bakerteamrecords.com/
Review written exclusively for Brutiful Entertainment by Rick Tilley:
www.facebook.com/richard.tilley.351
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