DARKOLOGY - ALTERED REFLECTIONS
ROCK-A-HOLICS RECORDS
Metal To Infinity
I
remember the Outworld demo totally blew me away! I couldn’t wait for their
debut album and it was around the Christmas holidays, some years ago, I received
it to be forever worshipped. This release was my ultimate album of that specific
year! There were plenty of reasons to idolize that album but one of the most
important motives was without any doubt the presence of Kelly Sundown Carpenter,
a professional Metal God ‘pur sang’! This man left Outworld afterwards and
joined Beyond Twilight to appear on their second CD, entitled “Section X”.
Outworld meanwhile disbanded and that is such a shame because they were too
fantastic to leave the Metal scčne. The worst is that their second album will
never see the light of day…
Anyway
I discovered Kelly Carpenter joined another band, playing a similar style as
Outworld did; the name of his new formation is Darkology. Amongst the members of
this band we find some other true Metal heads that pleasured us so many times in
the past; Michael Harris (Chastain, Arch Rival, Thought Chamber) on guitars and
his brother Brian Harris (Firewind and Solstice). On bass guitar we find a man
called Mike Neal! Let me also mention the outstanding solo-albums of Michael
Harris right here because fans of guitar heroes must adore them and this man’s
talent can be re-discovered on this Darkology release… Having a band with such
amazing musicians must result in a superb album, no?
Well,
allow me already to say “Altered Reflection” ends as my definitive favorite
disc for this year! This kind of dark Progressive Power Metal is just too
beautiful to spend words about but I am obliged to as a review writer! As a
matter of fact you should stop reading right here and surf to their website to
listen to their music, to surf back again to the Metal To Infinity webzine and
continue reading my review… Why? Because it is so much easier to understand my
words while listening to this gem! Fans of Beyond Twilight, Outworld, Vougan and
the better Symphony X records will be astonished by these Americans!
Where
to begin? Well, let’s start with the quality of this release! The variation,
the riffs, the arrangements, the ultra dark atmosphere in every song…
devastating and mind blowing! The front and back cover of this awesome digi-pack
breathes what this album is all about; Dark Energy! In and between every song
these musicians created elements that will easily suck you into another
dimension, a dimension of this particular “Dark energy” (an unbelievable
track by the way). Each song succeeds to the highest standards of a perfect
Metal song. There are masses of Progressive injections in every track and
there’s so much to discover. Darkology has been creative and ambitious,
working hard on every detail! Nevertheless Darkology stays focused to play
refrains and choruses that make it possible to the listener to find the red
lines or in other words there’s no exaggeration to show all of their talents.
All members are equally responsible for this magnum opus; no member needs to
stand in the shadow!
In
every song Darkology delivers a wide range of atmospheric and emotional elements.
Some Jazz, plenty of (mysterious) ambient performances, some sinister samples to
create this specific mood, freaky movie elements, subtle but perfectly used
keyboards to create an even darker atmosphere…all are foreseen and in between
Michael Harris proves why he‘s labeled as a guitar hero! Mighty riff and
lightning fast – yet emotional played – guitar solos are heading your way.
Michael Harris deserved his status before but by this release he proves that
he’s a fantastic song writer! His performances makes Darkology sound
neo-classical, but in this case ten thousand times stronger!
Next
to the Progressive part Darkology also spoils the listener with some pure and
overwhelming Power. Imagine the kind of power we knew from Nevermore (“Dreaming
Neon Black” and “Dead Heart In A Dead World” era), Iced Earth (“Something
Wicked This Way Comes” era), Evergrey (“In Search Of Truth” era) and some
ultra Progressive technical mid tempo Thrash Metal bands. The basic lines are
ultimate technical and strong, the bass guitar lines and the sophisticated
played drum parts are beyond belief. Add a perfect production for this kind of
music and you’ll understand that Darkology succeeded in their goal to release
an album where the mix / production and music are in an ideal balance! This kind
of Metal invites you to play it loud, bang that head and feel victorious being a
Metal head!
The
songs are amazing, guitars are godlike, bass guitars and drums complete…what
do we need more? Of course, a band often falls or stands with their singer but
in this case we’re talking about Kelly Carpenter as the complete Metal singer
extraordinaire! Yes, Kelly Sundown Carpenter belongs between the best ten Metal
singers on earth! Geoff Tate (Queensryche), Rob Halford (Judas Priest), James
Rivera (Helstar, Destiny’s End,…), Ronnie James Dio (Dio, Black Sabbath,..),
Warrel Dane (Nevermore, Sanctuary), Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden), Jorn Lande (Beyond
Twilight, Jorn, Ark,…), Russel Allen (Symphony X) to name a few are the best
singers on earth and from now on (actually since the Outworld album) Kelly
Sundown Carpenter belongs in that row. The strength and the range of this
man’s voices have no boundaries! Aggression, pain, melancholy, fear, laughter
and every other possible emotion can be expressed by this man’s voice; Godlike!
His vocal sound is unique but if you want me to compare him I should say he
delivers a mix between Jorn Lande, Russel Allen, Rob Halford and Warrel Dane!
What a fantastic voice with so many possibilities to use different vocal sounds!
The high screams blow me away, the aggressive timbre is precise and unqualified!
This
intelligent masterpiece is exceptional beautiful and to be honest I have nothing
negative to say about this album; even the digi-pack itself can be considered as
being perfect. This is Metal as superlative as it can be! Everything I am
longing for in a good Metal band is present and I’d like to congratulate
Darkology with this fantastic debut album; to me they deserve their place in my
year list (check it out guys)! From now on this album will forever belong
between my all time favorite Metal releases, that’s for sure! Every Metal fan
around the world should purchase this one; check these new Metal Gods out at http://www.myspace.com/darkologymetal
or http://ww.darkology.com
My
Points: 100 / 100
(Review
by Officer Nice)