• New Music Reviews
• |
• Archives
• |
• News
• |
• Submissions
• |
• About
• |
• 
• |
• 

September 2024

• Find Me: Nightbound
• The Nail: The Nail
• Timeless Fairytale: A Story To Tell
• Stryper: When We Were Kings
• Phil Mogg: Moggs Motel
• Pure Reason Revolution: PComing Up To Consciousness
• Jordan Rudess: Permission To Fly

August 2024

• Siege Perilous: Creation's Call EP
• Paralydium: Universe Calls
• Mike Tramp: Songs Of White Lion Vol. II
• Bite The Bullet: Looking For Paradise
• All For Metal: Gods Of Metal (Year Of The Dragon)
• Hammerfall: Avenge The Fallen
• Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 2

July 2024

• Ironflame: Kingdom Torn Asunder
• Spektra: Hypnotized
• (Michael) Palace: Reckless Heart
• Mr. Big: Ten
• Dark Mile: Dark Mile

June 2024

• Kaipa: Sommargryningsljus
• Sunbomb: Light Up The Sky
• Seven Spires: A Fortress Called Home
• Atlantic: Another World
• Xeneris: Eternal Rising
• New Horizon: Conquerors
• Issa: Another World

May 2024

• Rhapsody Of Fire: Challenge The Wind
• Cloven Hoof: Heathen Cross
• Perseus: Into The Silence
• Yes: Talk (1994/2024) Reissue
• Marty Friedman: Drama
• Demon: Invincible
• The Treatment: Wake Up The Neighbourhood
• The Tangent: To Follow Polaris
• Riot V: Mean Streets
• Anette Olzon: Rapture
• FM: Old Habits Die Hard

April 2024

• War Grave: War Grave EP
• Six By Six: Beyond Shadowland
• Vanden Plas: The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things
• Praying Mantis: Defiance
• King Zebra: Between The Shadows
• About Us: Take A Piece
• Blue Oyster Cult: Ghost Stories

[ More Music Reviews ]

Midnattsol: The Metamorphosis Melody

Symphonic Power Metal

3.75/5.0

Napalm Records
Website Facebook Twitter MySpace
by Craig Hartranft,  04.18.2011

Midnattsol's The Metamorphosis Melody is the third offering from this Norwegian symphonic metal band. Perhaps this album should be reviewed in the context of Leaves' Eyes latest Meredead since Midnattsol vocalist Carmen Elise Espenaes is the younger sister of Liv Kristine Espenaes Krull, and both bands are signed to the same label. Both are symphonic metal bands, however, Midnattsol trends more toward the elements of melodic heavy and power metal with lesser emphasis on folk or native motifs.

The sound of The Metamorphosis Melody can only be described as epic and lavish. Mostly this comes from Midnattsol's fine synthesis of power and symphonic metal. Most times the results are grand and profound. Kong Valemons Kamp, A Poet's Prayer, and Forvandlingen are immense numbers with clever, but not overly complex, arrangements and fine musicianship. Actually, following Forvandlingen, Motets Makt and My Re-Creation, though girded by the symphonic, rise more to epic and classic melodic metal sound. On a different side, the band can also be dark and brooding: Forlorn has a heavy melancholy feel.

Sometimes, however, Midnattsol can sound like rather average power metal with a symphonic lacquer as on the title cut or Spellbound. They also have the distraction of pushing down Carmen Elise's vocals which, otherwise, are magnificent throughout. These songs occur early on and could persuade you to retreat from listening. That would be a mistake. There's some solid and entertaining music here if you're only patient to listen.

For their third release, The Metamorphosis Melody finds Midnattsol in fine form delivering a heavier symphonic metal in grand and sweeping arrangements. Recommended.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

For their third release, The Metamorphosis Melody finds Midnattsol in fine form delivering a heavier symphonic metal in grand and sweeping arrangements.

Alphabetical Index

We have to dig deep, three decades, to find the origins of Atlantic, a project of songwriter, musician, and producer Simon Harrison (then Stranger, Wisht). Initially thought to be a one-off recording, Harrison ... [ Read More ]