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│ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │
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│ P R E S E N T S │
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│ + Armory - Empyrean Realms (Jap. Ed.) + │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Information ║ │
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│║ ║ │
│║ Release Date.nov-02-2014 Encoder......L3.97 -V2 --vbr-new ║ │
│║ Genre........Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │
│║ Year.........2013 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ripper.......anthem Songs........12 ║ │
│║ Covers.......Yes Url... www.armorymetal.com ║ │
│║ ║ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Notes ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Artist : Armory Rating : You Decide! ║ │
│║ Album : Empyrean Realms (Jap. Ed.) Label : Spiritual Beas ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Description : ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Armory's debut kinda washed over me, creating ║ │
│║ little in the way of excitement despite it's ║ │
│║ positively up-tempo and energetic approach. As ║ │
│║ such I wasnÆt exactly clamouring for a sophomore ║ │
│║ effort; although I will admit that after seeing ║ │
│║ the album artwork my curiosity was piqued - ║ │
│║ seriously there's just something about albums ║ │
│║ shaded in hues of blue, green, and/or purple ║ │
│║ that work for me (see A Flame To The Ground ║ │
│║ Beneath, Celestial: Entrance, Transcendence, ║ │
│║ Awaken The Guardian; yeah, you know the score). ║ │
│║ So I decided I'd give this one a listen, and ║ │
│║ damn did I make the right choice. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Yeah this album fucking rules. I spend a lot of ║ │
│║ time listening to power metal, and to hear a ║ │
│║ band incorporate just about everything I love in ║ │
│║ the style is a big deal. More surprising is that ║ │
│║ it's a band like Armory who've come out of the ║ │
│║ left-field and lynched us with the finest in the ║ │
│║ genre for 2013. It's times like these that ║ │
│║ wading through the seas of mediocre becomes ║ │
│║ worth it, and truth be told, whilst there have ║ │
│║ been some superb releases this year; outside of ║ │
│║ Arrayan Path there's nothing I've found myself ║ │
│║ wanting to listen to as frequently as I have ║ │
│║ Empyrean Realms. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ What makes this one so good then? A few things ║ │
│║ actually, all of which come together in blissful ║ │
│║ harmony. Their balance of the individual ║ │
│║ instruments for one is absolutely flawless. ║ │
│║ Guitar, bass, keyboards, and drums are ║ │
│║ completely unified, complimenting each other the ║ │
│║ way they should, without any particular ║ │
│║ instrument hogging the show - outside of solos, ║ │
│║ of course. Further enhancing the magnificent ║ │
│║ balance of musicianship is the songwriting ║ │
│║ itself, which is insanely well done, boasting ║ │
│║ some exciting twists and deft changes. This ║ │
│║ leads nicely into their general control over ║ │
│║ their given style, the vast majority of the ║ │
│║ power metal sub-styles are touched on here, from ║ │
│║ the melodic AOR/hard rock infused fare all the ║ │
│║ way to the prog/power that gets me all flustered ║ │
│║ and excited. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Now, having cracking musicianship and ║ │
│║ songwriting skills is all well and good, but to ║ │
│║ really sell it you're going to want a good ║ │
│║ vocalist, and Adam Kurland is just that. Whilst ║ │
│║ I'm normally a dab hand at comparing singers and ║ │
│║ pegging down who they sound like, Adam has left ║ │
│║ my mind in a crunch. The best I can come up with ║ │
│║ for now is Pagan's Mind singer Nils K Rue, ║ │
│║ although it's more in terms of approach and ║ │
│║ performance as opposed to tonality that I'm ║ │
│║ reminded as such. Either way, Adam sounds great ║ │
│║ throughout with a good bit of variation in his ║ │
│║ pipes, whether it's bashing out big soaring ║ │
│║ choruses, or delivering some powerful verse ║ │
│║ work. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ As IÆve said, the songwriting is absolutely ace ║ │
│║ here, and all of the songs are worth mentioning. ║ │
│║ From the hyper-charged ôDreamstateö with its ║ │
│║ fervent riffing that reminds me of early Hibria ║ │
│║ - crikey, that guitar solo section has the ║ │
│║ saliva gushing down my chin - to the genre ║ │
│║ mastery displayed in opening cut "Eternal Mind". ║ │
│║ ôFate Seekerö kicks up the bandÆs prog/power ║ │
│║ elements, coming off as a veritable mix of ║ │
│║ PaganÆs Mind and Cloudscape; but what is this, a ║ │
│║ thrash riff attack? Remember when I said these ║ │
│║ guys dished out some exciting twists and ║ │
│║ changes? ItÆs all here, from the aforementioned ║ │
│║ thrashing to a chorus that would make Freedom ║ │
│║ Call cry rainbow tears û oh, and did I mention ║ │
│║ the song is about fucking Elric! Man, this is ║ │
│║ just too cool for school. Even when they splice ║ │
│║ some AOR flavouring into their master bred power ║ │
│║ metal formula itÆs ridiculously fun, as evident ║ │
│║ in the albums ultimate feel good anthem ôInner ║ │
│║ Sanctumö. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ IÆm seriously having to refrain from veering off ║ │
│║ into track by track territory, let me just say ║ │
│║ this is flat out brilliant across the board û ║ │
│║ even the instrumental. Each song houses a whole ║ │
│║ host of killer riffs, ripping guitar solos, ║ │
│║ pummelling and wonderfully audible bass, ║ │
│║ perfectly utilized keyboards, and lets not ║ │
│║ forget the dynamic and effective drums. This is ║ │
│║ all capped off to suitably pleasing effect with ║ │
│║ AdamÆs endearing vocals, as well as some highly ║ │
│║ enjoyable and empowering lyrics. Empyrean Realms ║ │
│║ is essentially fifty minutes of pure power metal ║ │
│║ ecstasy, a perfect blend of the European and US ║ │
│║ schools; and of course essential listening for ║ │
│║ any fan of the style. Whilst the album doesn't ║ │
│║ break anything in the way of new ground, it's ║ │
│║ played with the kind of heart and energy that ║ │
│║ just can't be denied; and really it's one of ║ │
│║ those albums that will reaffirm your love for ║ │
│║ the style. Buy this one now, seriously NOW! ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Adam Kurland - Vocals ║ │
│║ Tom Preziosi - Bass ║ │
│║ Joe Kurland - Guitars, Drums ║ │
│║ Pete Rutcho - Keyboards ║ │
│║ Chad Fisher - Guitars ║ │
│║ Tom Vieira - Additional Drums ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Tracklist ║ │
│╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │
│ │
│ 01 - Eternal Mind [05:25] │
│ 02 - Dreamstate [05:21] │
│ 03 - Beyond The Horizon [06:53] │
│ 04 - Reflection Divine [05:29] │
│ 05 - Horologium [04:01] │
│ 06 - Elements Of Creation [04:56] │
│ 07 - Inner Sanctum [04:56] │
│ 08 - Fate Seeker [06:22] │
│ 09 - Quest For The Fleece [07:01] │
│ 10 - Thundersteel (Riot Cover) (Bonus Track) [03:50] │
│ 11 - Where The Rain Grows (Helloween Cover) (Bo [04:46] │
│ 12 - Love Is Pain (Virgin Steele Cover) (Bonus [03:55] │
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│ Total Length : [62:55 minn │
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│ ╔═════════════════════╗ │
│ ║ Greetings To: ║ │
│ ╚═════════════════════╝ │
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│ Too all people who contributes to make this │
│ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │
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