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│ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │
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│ P R E S E N T S │
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│ + Mike Lepond┤s Silent Assassins - Pawn And Prophecy-(MICP-113 + │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Information ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Release Date.Feb-28-2018 Encoder......L3.98.4 -V0 --lowpas ║ │
│║ Genre........Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │
│║ Year.........2018 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ripper.......anthem Songs........09 ║ │
│║ Covers.......Yes Url... n/a ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Notes ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Artist : Mike Lepond┤s Silent AssassinsRating : You Decide! ║ │
│║ Album : Pawn And Prophecy-(MICP-11397)Label : Avalon ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Description : ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ It seems like the line has gotten rather blurred ║ │
│║ between bassist Mike LepondÆs Silent Assassins ║ │
│║ and his parent band Symphony X. Both projects ║ │
│║ are deeply rooted in prog-tinged power metal and ║ │
│║ feature some of the same faces in different ║ │
│║ roles. But while Symphony X has spent the 2010s ║ │
│║ digging deeper into modern influences, Pawn and ║ │
│║ Prophecy seems to be filling the void as it ║ │
│║ expands its prog influence while still adhering ║ │
│║ to its old school metal aspirations. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ As with the Silent AssassinsÆ 2014 debut, the ║ │
│║ core of Pawn and Prophecy is a somewhat ║ │
│║ technical take on classic metal inspired by ║ │
│║ Manowar, Helloween, and Jag Panzer among others. ║ │
│║ Ironically, Lepond seems to have reined himself ║ │
│║ in as his bass work continues to lead the ║ │
│║ charge, though with fewer moments of DeMaio- ║ │
│║ inspired shredding than the debutÆs near ║ │
│║ constant wankery. Fellow Symphony X colleague ║ │
│║ Michael Romeo continues providing solid backing ║ │
│║ instrumentation and Watchtower/Hades vocalist ║ │
│║ Alan Tecchio keeps laying down what may be the ║ │
│║ best vocals of his career. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The songs themselves mostly consist of upbeat ║ │
│║ rockers like ôBlack Legendö and ôAvengers of ║ │
│║ Edenö that offer plenty of catchy choruses and ║ │
│║ occasional lapses into thrash influence. Of ║ │
│║ course, there are some outliers that turn out ║ │
│║ strong. ôI Am the Bullö shows off some of that ║ │
│║ Sign of the Hammer-era Manowar influence with ║ │
│║ its dramatic bass intro and ominous mid-tempo ║ │
│║ pacing. The folk balladry of ôThe Mulberry Treeö ║ │
│║ makes it seem like a token successor to the ║ │
│║ debutÆs ôMasada,ö but ends up surpassing it due ║ │
│║ to the more upbeat troubadour aesthetic. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ One also canÆt go without referencing the title ║ │
│║ track, which ends up being a twenty-one minute ║ │
│║ epic based on Macbeth. Much like the classic ║ │
│║ Symphony X epics of old, there are distinct ║ │
│║ movements at play that range from folk jigs, ║ │
│║ speed metal outbursts, and cinematic swells with ║ │
│║ plenty of bass noodling and contributing guest ║ │
│║ vocal/guitarist spots in between. The extended ║ │
│║ blues breakdown is sure to a contention point ║ │
│║ and I put it in the enjoyably cheesy department ║ │
│║ myself, but it certainly helps make things stand ║ │
│║ out. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Overall, the second outing by Mike LepondÆs ║ │
│║ Silent Assassins is an excellent slab of prog- ║ │
│║ power metal by one of the genreÆs most prolific ║ │
│║ yet underrated players. I think I may prefer ║ │
│║ their debutÆs unhinged style, but it is great to ║ │
│║ see the band expand their sound while continuing ║ │
│║ to release enjoyable material. It would be ║ │
│║ excellent to see this project to get some ║ │
│║ momentum; if Symphony X is unable to return from ║ │
│║ their hiatus anytime soon, it may be enough to ║ │
│║ fill the void. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Review written by Twisted_Psychology for ║ │
│║ www.metal-archives.com ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Mike LePond - Vocals (Backing), Guitars ║ │
│║ (Rhythm), Bass ║ │
│║ Alan Tecchio - Lead Vocals ║ │
│║ Lance Barnewold - Guitars ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Michael Romeo - Guitars (Lead) (track 8 ), ║ │
│║ Keyboards, Drum Programming ║ │
│║ Michael Pinnella - Vocals (Backing), Organ, ║ │
│║ Piano (Track 8 ) ║ │
│║ Rod Rivera - Guitars (Lead) (Tracks 5, 6, 7) ║ │
│║ Andry Lagiou - Vocals (Lead) (Track 8 ) ║ │
│║ Noa Gruman - Vocals (Lead) (Track 8 ) ║ │
│║ Veronica Freeman - Vocals (Lead) (Track 8 ) ║ │
│║ Phyllis Rutter - Vocals (Lead) (Track 8 ) ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Tracklist ║ │
│╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │
│ │
│ 01 - Master Of The Hall [06:25] │
│ 02 - Black Legend [04:33] │
│ 03 - Antichist [04:45] │
│ 04 - I Am The Bull [06:34] │
│ 05 - Avengers Of Eden [03:33] │
│ 06 - Hordes Of Fire [03:58] │
│ 07 - The Mulberry Tree [06:32] │
│ 08 - Pawn And Prophecy [21:40] │
│ 09 - Ballad Of The Witches (Bonus Track) [06:02] │
│ │
│ Total Length : [64:02 minn │
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│ ╔═════════════════════╗ │
│ ║ Greetings To: ║ │
│ ╚═════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ Too all people who contributes to make this │
│ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │
│ │
│ │
│ │
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