Hollow Haze - Countdown to Revenge

So how can a band change and evolve after a decade of existence and 4 studio albums? Well, there’s always time and space to go forward if you want to or if need be. With the moves Hollow Haze made, they showed that they were ready to go further and not stay on safe waters. First and foremost, they probably hired the best (surely the most famed one) vocalist from Italy for the frontman’s position, Fabio Leone (Rhapsody of Fire, Vision Divine etc.). Secondly, they added more symphonic metal elements along with a few progressive & melodic metal ones to their music. The band worked with Antarktica and Wintermoon Orchestra for this album, giving to their sound a depth and a grandeur atmosphere. Soundwise, the album was recorded at Remaster Studio in Vicenza in Italy and mixed by Sascha Paeth (Avantasia, Edguy, Angra, Rhapsody of Fire) at Gate Studios in Wolfsburg in Germany. The result is first-rate in total. There’s also a guest appearance by Rick Altzi (Masterplan, ex-Thunderstone, ex-At Vance) on “Still Alive”.
 
Stylewise, the heavy/power symphonic metal along with the extra help from the two orchestras is rather good and fresh even though there’s a shortage of big. catchy hooks and choruses. Everything has been taken good care of and the orchestrations are wonderful indeed. If it wasn’t for this lack (sometimes it is quite intense) of strong melodies generally, then this album would have been way better… not that it ain’t really nice now or something. Another thing is that Fabio has given a great dynamism to the band and he is another reason why someone should listen to “Countdown to Revenge”, especially if he’s into this kind of music. At last, if this cooperation with the band and Fabio continues for a long time-period then we should await even greater things to come…