Artist: Silverlane
Title: My Inner Demon
Type: Album
Label: Drakkar Records
I have to admit that my penchant for power metal in any of its guises has limited staying power and it takes special bands like Edguy or Sabaton to help me want to hear more. This debut album by Subway To Sally’s drummer Simon Michael has every feature a melodic power metal should have. Be it the soaring vocal performance of Ecki, the galloping bass drum or the simple yet effective riffing there is something for any discerning power metal aficionado to get their polished teeth into. Opening with ‘Wings Of Eternity’ the track has a lingering organic bass drum sound with some folky keys and a vocal line similar to Edguy or latter day Helloween. A piano starts the heavy metal sound of ‘Miracle’ which fits with the slower more ballad like appeal of ‘The Flight Of Icarus’, and whilst not exactly my normal metal diet there is no denying that Simon has considerable talent and is backed by equally talented backing musicians.
The title track is slightly more ambitious with keys and effects used for atmosphere and to compliment the catchy riffing that gives the track a film score style with a touch of orchestration added that is kept in check. The ballad like ‘Tears Of Pain’ was too meek and mild for my liking where as the more upbeat and dynamic ‘Kingdom Of Sand’ has powerful vocals akin to Geoff Tate. I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Full Moon’ which is more heavy metal than power metal though the vocals hint otherwise as the rhythm increases in tone making it catchy and very accessible. The short marching sounds of ‘Serenade Of Wind’ serve to create an excellent opening to ‘The Dark Storm’, a symphonic styled track that has emotion and melody aplenty. Ballads are not my cup of tea so the closing track ‘Slowly’ made the album end on a tedious note and whilst my extreme metal urges were getting the better of me towards the end of the album this is exceptionally well structured melodic power/heavy metal.
www.silverlane.org
Martin Harris
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