Hollow Haze
Memories of an Ancient Time
Bakerteam Records
2015
The name of Hollow Haze did ring a distant bell in my mind, with them having been around for a bit more than a decade. Recently they were utilizing Rhapsody/Angra’s etc. Fabio Leone, as their singer, for their pompous, slightly neo-classical influenced power metal but following his departure, on this, their sixth release, they seem to have secured the services of Mats Leven (Yngwie Malmsteen, Candlemass, Krux, Therion and a whole lot more), Rick Altzi (Masterplan) and the lady Amanda Sommerville, who’s made a pretty impressive name for her mostly via collaborations in a lot of symphonic bands/projects (again quite a few to mention here). Leven seems to be assuming a lot of the lead vocals, with Altzi often popping in to do some additional supporting vocal, or trade lines or verses with Leven, in most cases, his rougher, faux Jorn being easily distinguishable and he must be doing a lot of the more melodic passages too, even though a few could be attributed to Leven as well. Sommerville, mostly offers, textures and backing vocals, but on occasion comes to the fore a bit more.
This is an album that sounds a lot like Rhapsody, with Leven even trying to “channel” a bit of Leone, even though his grit, at times, just comes rip-roaring, on top of the notes, but not always... but it’s not that flourished or epic sounding, but a lot more symphonic in the traditional sense of the word. It’s quite catchy in places, thanks to its simple easily consumable forms, but doesn’t manage to really standout that much just because it’s that predictable. The performances of the vocalists, are what manage to lift it, from the average to good levels to probably some pretty solidly good status, but this is not a genre defining work. It’s just that this sort of “more” edgy Rhapsody meets Avantasia, down a highway, style, with gritty male singers, doesn’t sound all that bad with almost each and every song having its own little hook, that works rather well and sometimes (“Rain of Fire Lights”, “Created to Live” and “Lance of Destiny”) quite exceptionally. It would seem unclear if they would be able to secure the services of the said singers in the long term, so this does cast their “future” with this line up into a more uncertain direction but, as it stands “memories” is unlikely to disappoint any fans of European symphonic power metal.
This is an album that sounds a lot like Rhapsody, with Leven even trying to “channel” a bit of Leone, even though his grit, at times, just comes rip-roaring, on top of the notes, but not always... but it’s not that flourished or epic sounding, but a lot more symphonic in the traditional sense of the word. It’s quite catchy in places, thanks to its simple easily consumable forms, but doesn’t manage to really standout that much just because it’s that predictable. The performances of the vocalists, are what manage to lift it, from the average to good levels to probably some pretty solidly good status, but this is not a genre defining work. It’s just that this sort of “more” edgy Rhapsody meets Avantasia, down a highway, style, with gritty male singers, doesn’t sound all that bad with almost each and every song having its own little hook, that works rather well and sometimes (“Rain of Fire Lights”, “Created to Live” and “Lance of Destiny”) quite exceptionally. It would seem unclear if they would be able to secure the services of the said singers in the long term, so this does cast their “future” with this line up into a more uncertain direction but, as it stands “memories” is unlikely to disappoint any fans of European symphonic power metal.