June 2026 Feature Release - The Infinite 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 Infinite, nominated by me (Shadowdoom9 (Andi)), is the brand-new 7th album by Tunisian progressive/symphonic metal band Myrath, Wilderness of Mirrors. Myrath's new album has some of the best of their Middle Eastern-flavored progressive metal to offer. It's an excellent place to start for anyone up to diving into the world of Myrath.

https://metal.academy/releases/67413

I've done my review, here's its summary:

With their 7th album Wilderness of Mirrors, Myrath continue to step up their game, with slight improvement in the production. I also loved how audible the bass is now. As always, the amount of worldwide influences makes Myrath one of the most diverse and versatile bands around. Middle Eastern symphonic progressive metal is a style that Myrath can perform at ease, and that's something worth praising a lot. One of those tracks has encouraged me to start listening to Myrath full-time after about 10 years of hearing about them but brushing them aside, thanks to one of the monthly Infinite playlists. I honestly wasn't expecting oriental prog-metal to hit me so hard, but I'm glad it did. It's also worth noting the soaring singing of vocalist Zaher Zorgati and the Middle Eastern arrangements by keyboardist Kevin Codfert. All in all, Wilderness of Mirrors may be tied with Karma as my favorite Myrath album that isn't the glorious Tales of the Sands. It's too spectacular to ignore. Myrath needs to be appreciated more, and they shall!

4.5/5

Recommended tracks: "The Funeral", "Until the End", "Les Enfants du Soleil", "Soul of My Soul", "Echoes of the Fallen"

For fans of: later Orphaned Land, Evergrey, Kamelot

This one has caught me off-guard from sure.  I heard the first track and thought “Oh my days, fucking Eurovision here we come!”.  But then I found myself listening to the whole thing anyway…and actually liking it.  This does happen occasionally, like with that Christmas album someone nominated as a feature release once that got 5 stars from me even though on paper I should have absolutely hated it. Prepping a review when time permits, busy few weeks ahead for me though so in case it never materialises I wanted to acknowledge the feature is a (surprise) winner.

Thanks, Vinny. I look forward to seeing your review if you have the time to write it.

Myrath have been on a downturn from me as someone who was very into their stuff around Tales of the Sand and Legacy, and I did check this one out last year and never really went back to it after it left zero impression on me. I'll be revisiting it this month with a more discerning ear since I agree, Myrath have always needed a bit more recognition, but I'm not quite sure it's because of their newer material yet. Maybe I'm a bit jaded because I've kept up with them for so long, so I'll have to see!

Unexpected and completely unannounced, Myrath have landed in my world and made an almighty impact by way of this month’s Infinite feature release. On paper, there was a lot to alarm me with the tags of symphonic metal and progressive metal throwing up two of some of my least favoured sub-genres. However, the reality of the actual listening experience has proven far more empowering than I ever could have expected. Wilderness of Mirrors is catchy, hooky and as result incredibly memorable. The spontaneity that presented upon my first listen was just the catalyst to a consistently rewarding album that repeated listens through seem to only improve on that initial positive reception.

The symphonic elements are thankfully not huge orchestral movements, and nor are they washy keys that flood everything either. The Middle Eastern influences on show here are incorporated skilfully into varying tempos and rhythms. Accented vocals are not always done well (Orphaned Land come to mind here) but in the main the vocals here only add to the authenticity of the music. There is some clunkiness to them sometimes, like on the track ‘Until the End’ featuring Amaranthe’s Elize Ryd where there is the annoying extension of words to make them fit the music, or on the opening to ‘Les Enfants Du Soliel’ when the choral vocals get sung over by the band’s vocalist. Whilst they are isolated moments, they do linger on the mind for a while after.

Production wise, Wilderness of Mirrors is immaculately produced. It is to be expected though. Within a few minutes of album opener ‘The Funeral’ it becomes clear that anything less production values wise would be a travesty. This is an album that is wanting to soar from the off, taking little time to awaken that massive wingspan. I would have more stars for it if perhaps the record did not dip in quality towards the end. After my personal favourite track, ‘The Clown’ things do get a little samey for me. Even though the musicianship remains strong and exuberantly showy, there is a sense of the ideas tank starting to run on empty over the final four tracks. This has still been a revelation for my usually more extreme ear however and I must have played this album for around two weeks on a daily basis.

4/5