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Arrayan Path: IV - Stigmata
Arrayan Path: IV - Stigmata
Melodic/Heavy/Power Metal
3.5/5.0
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Pitch Black Records
by Craig Hartranft, 06.06.2013
Content not to stray from their power metal path, Cyprus band Arrayan Path returns with their fourth album IV - Stigmata. According to advanced information this a concept album concerning religion. But I'm not sure if they're for or against it.
Arrayan Path: close quarters.
From the start, this is Arrayan Path doing straight up melodic power metal of the European persuasion. While hardly novel or groundbreaking, Arrayan Path still does this style quite well. This said, the first several songs are rather generic material, expected and predictable at that. They rebound with Judas Iscariot thanks to it's catchy chorus and subtle rock groove. Then Stigmata attempts to sound epic, but merely muddles along.
Without calling it dramatic or significant, things improve in the latter half of the album. There are stronger, more appealing, melodies, groove, and atmosphere within Cursed Canaan, Pharaoh's Wish, and The Storyteller, which make for some pleasing power metal. That last song finally captures that epic power metal sound, thanks to a stronger symphonic layer and deeper vocal arrangement. Some of the choral arrangements come thanks to Vagelis Maranis who produced, mixed and mastered the album. Once again, with VI - Stigmata, Arrayan Path has a created good melodic power metal, perhaps unsurprising, yet easily hitting the mark. Recommended.
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In Short
Once again, with VI - Stigmata, Arrayan Path has a created good melodic power metal, perhaps unsurprising, yet easily hitting the mark. Recommended.
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