Artist: Orpheus
Title: Sidehorn
Type Album Reissue
Label: Femme Metal

There are quite a few bands knocking about under the Orpheus banner but this particular incarnation hail from Trondheim in Norway and deal in traditional heavy metal with a progressive twist. In fact that quick summation of their sound doesn’t really do them justice. Yes, traditional metal forms the basis of their sound and yes, their sometimes lengthy songs do encompass many progressive values, but most importantly Orpheus have a willingness to follow their songs wherever they may lead.

There’s no adherence to genre expectations, no limitations to what a song might contain and hence no uniform style which means that every song is a unique, character filled entity. Opening track, ‘Fuck Me Over’ begins with some delicate, lilting notes that seem utterly at odds with the bluntness of the title and then shifts through a variety of moods and phases, including a great solo and some brilliant Maiden/Priest style guitar melodies. Another highlight is the sprawling ‘Peepin’ Tom’ where the introductory solo is just immaculate, notes falling like dewdrops onto the exquisite melody below, before the song erupts into some huge, sinister chords and a darkly twisted vocal performance from Ingrid Galadriel. With this natural, organic and honest approach to music it’s inevitable that not everything Orpheus create will work as brilliantly and the overly aggressive ‘Mr. Manipulative’ is a definite down point for me. However this album is always interesting and occasionally absolutely brilliant.

http://www.myspace.com/orphmo

Chris Kee

MTUK HOME