April 2025 Featured Release - The Sphere Edition

So just like that we find that a new month is upon us which of course means that we’ll be nominating a brand new monthly feature release for each clan. This essentially means that we’re asking you to rate, review & discuss our chosen features for no other reason than because we enjoy the process & banter. We’re really looking forward to hearing your thoughts on our chosen releases so don’t be shy.

This month's feature release for The Sphere, nominated by me (Shadowdoom9 (Andi)), is the 1997 5th album by Finnish metal band Waltari, Space Avenue. The band has crossed over and under many different genres, and while they often stick firmly in alternative metal, the second half of the 90s showed them experimenting with a different sound per album, and Space Avenue is an alt-/industrial metal classic that anyone should get into.

https://metal.academy/releases/2123

Here's my review summary:

Waltari is known for their huge blend of genres, with Space Avenue focusing on alt-/industrial metal. The album features a lineup with notable members including former Stone guitarist Roope Latvala, taking temporary place of Sami Yli-Sirniö who would also join Kreator, and drummer Janne Parviainen. Latvala and Parviainen would later join Sinergy, and the former would perform with Children of Bodom and the latter with Ensiferum. Absolutely solid! As for the album, a fantastic lineup doesn't necessary show evolution to the band, but Space Avenue is still in the line of perfection. Manning the production is Front Line Assembly's Rhys Fulber, another reason for the album's slick audio appearance. The tracks all range from catchy and poppy to heavy and thrashy. Adding to the experimental vibe in a couple tracks is the beautiful cello courtesy of Apocalyptica (back when that group was still known as a Metallica cover band). The band had fun making their material, and so did I with listening to what they've made there!

5/5

Recommended tracks: "External", "Far Away", "Blind Zone", "Prime Time", "Main Stream", "Walking in the Neon"

For fans of: Apocalyptica (if you wanna hear more of their origins), Front Line Assembly's Millennium, 90s Voivod

This isn't exactly likely to sit very high on my list of metal favourites, but I would be lying if I said I hated it. On paper this really isn't up my street at all, but there was something I found infectious and likeable in the exuberance with which these Finns delivered their catchy, industrialised alternative metal ditties. In truth, the appeal would probably fade very quickly and even on a single listen the album was a bit too long for my preference. I could definitely do without the nu-metally rap parts and would gladly wave goodbye to those, but for an album of energetic poppy metal anthems this was reasonably tolerable. Damning with faint praise maybe, but considering where my metal tastes lie, that's not bad I would suggest.

2.5/5