Reviews list for Adramelch - Irae Melanox (1988)

When progressive metal was first starting off in the 80s, it was more melodic than in subsequent decades. Those were the times when the two founding bands of the genre, Queensryche and Fates Warning were associated with classic heavy metal, though Dream Theater would then sever those ties with their pure melodic progressive metal sound. In between was an album from a band that would mix the genre with another Guardians genre, one that would've appealed to me more 10 years ago... Power metal.

You know how happy power metal sounds in their riffs, leads, and choruses to sing along to, but back then, bands of that style had a darker direction. Fates Warning at that time added some heavy riffing and lyrics of death and religion to their power-ish progressive metal. Adramelch does the same here. Not as heavy, but quite dark...

"Fearful Visions" begins ominously with mysterious keys and choir that have a bit of a gothic vibe. Then the progressive/power metal action kicks off, and Vittorio Ballerio starts singing. While not hitting the highs as powerfully as Queensryche's Geoff Tate, his accented desperation fits well with the song's theme of a desolated city of peasants. It's a great opening track to let you know what to expect in the album, high-level riffing leading up to a climatic ending. Seriously, I love the riffing that takes me through the Black Death without actually experiencing the deadly plague. There's more of this divine music in "Zephirus". The title track shines very well in the progressiveness, while not drifting too far off from the power metal side.

"Lamento" is kind of a bland acoustic interlude. Despite its blandness, there is a medieval atmosphere that actually sounds promising and can work well as a soundtrack to a Dungeons and Dragons fantasy game, but it just fades out. So yeah, quite anticlimactic. This is made up for by "Decay (Saver Comes)" with solid wailing vocals, especially in the ending over a gloomy melody as it fades out more appropriately, a bit like the end of Fates Warning's The Spectre Within. The interesting "Was Called Empire" is full-on power metal with some speedy Iron Maiden-infused riffing and vocal glory.

"Eyes of Alabaster" once again shows that when it comes to progressiveness, there's a major difference between the 80s power metal of this band and the modern technical-thrash of Vektor. Here we have the finale "Dreams of a Jester" that summarizes the great aspects of the album and ending it all in a way that never ceases to amaze me. That would certainly make me up for more of this progressive power metal sound if I didn't p*ssy out of there.

All in all, Irae Melanox shall appeal to fans of power metal who would like to hear the US and European styles blended together with early progressive metal. Not quite the perfect spark for a heavier metalhead like me, but there's a charm of uniqueness within....

Favorites: "Fearful Visions", "Irae Melanox", "Was Called Empire", "Dreams of a Jester"