Derdian
Human Reset
Independent Release
2014
Derdrian, have been going on for more than a decade now, a pretty standard power metal band from Italy that initially didn’t garner much interest with their debut, but did manage to get on Magna Carta, when they were shunned by Dream Theater members, and apparently, signed whatever was even remotely prog. Their most current, third singer, Ivan Giannini, is possibly their most capable one, even if he has noticeable traces of an Italian accent and with him they have released their last couple of albums, including this current one.
The band’s style is an ultra-fast power metal with some prog elements that mostly tend to be translated into keyboard underlying instrumentations, or sometimes more prominent flourishes, although it’s rare that they allow keys to come to the fore on their own, unless it’s some interlude... They are quite similar to Rhapsody of Fire, but not as explosive or the Ancient Bards I guess... or early Dragonland even.
There’s the symphonic element, but this time, the power elements seem to balance things out more throughout. “Eclipse” is the typical intro that a lot of bands choose to open an album with these days… after which “Human Reset” the title track, strikes you, as the most typical power metal song with symphonic influences you’ve heard this side of Rhapsody (which ever version you chose).
“In Everything” marks a marginal improvement, introducing a slight variation and even some Italian lyrics, although, that trick has been utilized before by other band, timeless times, so it’s nothing new.
“Mafia” is quite longer and quite different in style, indeed going for a much more progressive style and sound and thank god, for that, cause if I had to endure through 65 minutes of the “same thing”.
“These Rails Will Bleed” is apparently a very theatrical piece that’s rich in keys, that’s somewhat going back in the power metal territory, but does so in a quite unique way, that's not that boring, since it’s not the “typical sounding” 4/4 heroic “dragon slaying saga” type of story here...
“Absolute Power” likewise explores a similarly theatrical atmosphere, in a haunting mid-tempo with various tempo variations, keeping things relatively interesting.
“Write Your Epitaph” is probably the better example of these series of songs the band seemingly loosely has conceptually tied together… this is by far one of the catchiest songs on the entire album.
“Music is Life” ups the symphonic elements considerably, in a manic power metal crescendo, that’s not bad but takes a bit of getting used to.
“Gods Don’t Give a Damn” manages to have some hard hitting percussion, as is moves at a frantic pace, but with a very light touch overall, just as if the entire other band is waltzing all around the drummer and just lets the guitarist also to ponder for a moment and lay down a solo as well! Damn! (Was the “Mafia” – after them or something?)…
“After the Storm” is a slower and ponderous song, that I must admit that I liked quite a bit because of its glorious melodies and the nice performance of Giannini.
“Alone” begins with a barrage of mini riffs that lead it to a very orchestrated, long and heave middle section that reminded me in equal parts Kamelot, Symphony X, and the latest Rhapsody album (the LT band), but not as good, before it concludes rather uneventfully.
“Delirium” is a short introductory piece to “My Life Back”, that hardly justifies the name. The latter is the final song on the album and starts as a piano ballad that however midway develops into a mid-tempo quasi-epic number that seems to progressively gain momentum and speed, if not for some momentarily interludes, for most of its middle part and concludes with a long and fading piano outro. I’d say it begins rather nicely, but somewhere in the middle it becomes over-ambitious for its own-good and the band doesn’t know what the hell to do with it, so they keep on adding parts that don’t necessarily work all that well together.
The last couple of albums seem to be a decent upgrade for Dedrian and they are an OK, choice for those who might be into this sort of “Italian Power Metal” from yester-year. For fans of Rhapsody, Labyrinth, Ancient Bards and the like, this is not going to sound at all bad, I guess, with those four songs, (“Mafia” – “Write Your Epitaph”) being the peak of the album imho.
The band’s style is an ultra-fast power metal with some prog elements that mostly tend to be translated into keyboard underlying instrumentations, or sometimes more prominent flourishes, although it’s rare that they allow keys to come to the fore on their own, unless it’s some interlude... They are quite similar to Rhapsody of Fire, but not as explosive or the Ancient Bards I guess... or early Dragonland even.
There’s the symphonic element, but this time, the power elements seem to balance things out more throughout. “Eclipse” is the typical intro that a lot of bands choose to open an album with these days… after which “Human Reset” the title track, strikes you, as the most typical power metal song with symphonic influences you’ve heard this side of Rhapsody (which ever version you chose).
“In Everything” marks a marginal improvement, introducing a slight variation and even some Italian lyrics, although, that trick has been utilized before by other band, timeless times, so it’s nothing new.
“Mafia” is quite longer and quite different in style, indeed going for a much more progressive style and sound and thank god, for that, cause if I had to endure through 65 minutes of the “same thing”.
“These Rails Will Bleed” is apparently a very theatrical piece that’s rich in keys, that’s somewhat going back in the power metal territory, but does so in a quite unique way, that's not that boring, since it’s not the “typical sounding” 4/4 heroic “dragon slaying saga” type of story here...
“Absolute Power” likewise explores a similarly theatrical atmosphere, in a haunting mid-tempo with various tempo variations, keeping things relatively interesting.
“Write Your Epitaph” is probably the better example of these series of songs the band seemingly loosely has conceptually tied together… this is by far one of the catchiest songs on the entire album.
“Music is Life” ups the symphonic elements considerably, in a manic power metal crescendo, that’s not bad but takes a bit of getting used to.
“Gods Don’t Give a Damn” manages to have some hard hitting percussion, as is moves at a frantic pace, but with a very light touch overall, just as if the entire other band is waltzing all around the drummer and just lets the guitarist also to ponder for a moment and lay down a solo as well! Damn! (Was the “Mafia” – after them or something?)…
“After the Storm” is a slower and ponderous song, that I must admit that I liked quite a bit because of its glorious melodies and the nice performance of Giannini.
“Alone” begins with a barrage of mini riffs that lead it to a very orchestrated, long and heave middle section that reminded me in equal parts Kamelot, Symphony X, and the latest Rhapsody album (the LT band), but not as good, before it concludes rather uneventfully.
“Delirium” is a short introductory piece to “My Life Back”, that hardly justifies the name. The latter is the final song on the album and starts as a piano ballad that however midway develops into a mid-tempo quasi-epic number that seems to progressively gain momentum and speed, if not for some momentarily interludes, for most of its middle part and concludes with a long and fading piano outro. I’d say it begins rather nicely, but somewhere in the middle it becomes over-ambitious for its own-good and the band doesn’t know what the hell to do with it, so they keep on adding parts that don’t necessarily work all that well together.
The last couple of albums seem to be a decent upgrade for Dedrian and they are an OK, choice for those who might be into this sort of “Italian Power Metal” from yester-year. For fans of Rhapsody, Labyrinth, Ancient Bards and the like, this is not going to sound at all bad, I guess, with those four songs, (“Mafia” – “Write Your Epitaph”) being the peak of the album imho.