AFM Records
www.heavenly.fr
www.myspace.com/heavenlyofficial
Review: Craig Hartranft, 01.04.2010
After I thought they were once more, finally defunct, French melodic power metal band Heavenly appears with a new album, Carpe Diem. Heavenly's output has been hardly consistent, going two to three years between album recently. For fans of this genre-defining band, I'm sure that's a disappointment. Nevertheless, Carpe Diem is worth the wait as it is another fine platter of melodic power metal from these veterans.
After a listen or two, it appears Heavenly has bumped up their best characteristics: strong vocal arrangements bursting with harmonies and melodic composition hooks make this a genuinely entertaining work. Lost in Your Eyes, Full Moon, and A Better Me embrace these qualities in epic fashion. Though Carpe Diem has all the expected elements, Heavenly works the basics better than most; they have a clear understanding of this musical genre, and work the angles with acumen. The only song that seems a bit contrived is Ode to Joy based, of course, upon Beethoven's 9th Symphony. But, with it's blistering pace and grandiose arrangement, it works as pure Euro-power metal. Carpe Diem is a sound and entertaining work from France's Heavenly, one of the few bands, veteran and current, who can still pull off classic power metal with skill and charm. (You may want to pick up just for the two hot chicks on the cover.) Recommended.
Carpe Diem is a sound and entertaining work from France's Heavenly, one of the few bands, veteran and current, who can still pull off classic power metal with skill and charm.
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