FUTURE'S END - MEMOIRS OF A BROKEN MAN
NIGHTMARE RECORDS
Metal To Infinity
I’ve
said in another review that 2009
wasn’t, until now, top if we talk about US Metal. But some releases are yet to
come like Dark Arena and hopefully Jag Panzer. I suppose they will make it very
difficult when I finish my year list.
Future’s
End is a band I’ve noticed several times at the Internet and for a long time
they’re added as friends at my myspace.com page. I was expecting their release
and I was pretty curious to hear this it when the post man delivered me the
package. And yes, after the first spin I already know Future’s End is another
fantastic US Power Metal band. I can also imagine the band will never get what
it deserves and that’s such a shame. Bands like Outworld, Dark Arena and for
example Brutal Hand released amazing albums in the near past but these bands
could never break through, their albums didn’t even receive any attention by
the world wide major Metal magazines. I’m afraid the same will happen with
Future’s End, let’s hope I’m so wrong.
By
noticing Outworld, Dark Arena and Brutal Hand I suppose the real US fanatics
already expect Future’s End also released top quality with this album and they
did! This seems to be a concept CD and fans of Progressive Metal, of pure US
Power Metal with major blending Thrashy riffs and fans of melodic Heavy Metal
fanatics will adore this release! From the very beginning until the end
Future’s End keeps me close to my stereo, obliging me to pump up the volume!
Well, until the end is not exactly correct but I’ll explain that part later on.
Future’s
End contains fantastic musicians and even more important, fantastic song writers!
If you notice Steve DiGiorgio (Death, Control Denied, Iced Earth, Testament,…)
and Jon Allen (Sadus, Dragonlord) and other experienced musicians are present it
is obvious a masterpiece is written! The arrangements are flowing between sharp,
hard and heavy on the one hand, super emotional at the other. The guitars are
just outstanding; the solos for example are constantly fast fingered ,emotional,
spectacular and shredding. Future’s End surprises us with a pretty good
production and the technical played riffs fit perfect! The performances are
outstanding and thanks to fantastic keyboards, also played by guitarist
Christian Wentz, Future’s End sounds especially as a Progressive Metal band.
Nevertheless this labeling is to strict because Future’s End added so much
more into their music! “Your decay” for example is a track that will please
all kinds of Metal heads; what a extraordinary track! And God damn, those
guitars are superb!
Behind
the microphones we’ll find a man called Fred Marshall. He contains a very
strong voice, clear with a slice raw timbre! Even more important is that this
man owns the talent to add so many different emotions in his voice. It makes
this man an unbelievable singer, one of the kind I will worship from now on!
This is the perfect front man for this perfect Metal formation!
Although
the songs are varied and technical, often foreseen with sophisticated
arrangements, it isn’t that difficult to see the red line in each track. That
proves once more Future’s End is full of talent; ultimate skilled musicians,
professional all the way. Because the fact this is a concept CD I want you to
discover the story yourself, another reason to check this band out. Only one
thing I pity and that’s the fact the used samples aren’t exactly mixed in
between the songs. The pauses between the tracks are often too long and in my
opinion this kind of samples are major important in a concept CD because they
bind the story. I know, it’s a detail but a very important one to me!
“Beyond despair” seems to be the one and only ballad on this album and
although I’m not particular into ballads I’d like to mention this one
because it’s a mind-blowing one!
Fans
of Wycked Synn, Dream Theater, Symphony X, Outworld, Superior (Germany), Fates
Warning, Shadowkeep (UK) on the one side and Megadeth the more melodic Metal
Church will be blown away. Certainly if you know this technical kind of Metal is
supported by shredding guitars and virtuosic keyboards you’ll understand why
this is another CD that belongs in your collection. I need to mention also the
foundation of technical played drums and amazing bass guitar lines are worth
checking this one out! This release delivers the perfect vibes, is strong, full
of creativity, full of emotions…a chemistry that works right away! Form,
structure, balance, focus and melody are in a perfect balance and this release
contains twisting music mixed
with a diverse powerhouse of vocals. There are tons of hooks and
catchy choruses that makes this driving force of excellent musicians something
to watch out for!
At
the end Future’s End plays a cover from iron Maiden (“Powerslave”). It’s
without any doubt a very good cover but why the hell did they add it on this
album? This wasn’t at all necessary! I’m totally into the mood of this
concept CD and suddenly I hear some Iron Maiden through my speakers, bringing me
out of my imagination. Yes, I’m a fan of Maiden but I can’t understand why
Future’s End decided to do so. Last words to say is that this album deserves a
place between the best ten albums of 2009. Check http://www.myspace.com/futuresendband
My Points : 94 / 100 (Review by Officer Nice)