Soulspell
Hollow’s Gathering
Inner Wound Recordings
2012
Soulspell, is a Brazilian Metal opera project, now reaching its third chapter. While it’s not bad, it quite certainly cannot antagonize the “A-tier” Metal Operas on any level. While it tries hard and features a plethora of guest appearances by luminaries such as Tim “Ripper” Owens (ex-Judas Priest, Iced Earth, Malmsteen), Blaze Bailey (ex-Iron Maiden), Michael Vescera (ex-Loudness, Malmsteen), Markus Grosskopf (Helloween), Amanda Sommerville (Avantasia), Matt Smith (Theocracy) among others and lesser known but equally known people like Carlos Zema (ex-Outworld] or Mário Pastore (Pastore) and I will not even go into the instrumentalists, cause, the whole review, might read like a list of contributors... at the end of the day, at the end of the day, it’s the quality of the songs. While, Soulspell, is not bad, it’s far from being perfect. I tend to think and categorize it as the Genius Operas. Decent works, with the occasional brilliant track. When, you produce, like 3-4 albums in 3-4 years, realistically speaking, they cannot be that brilliant, unless you’ve reached some amazing creative peak. Which isn’t necessarily the case here or in other cases, elsewhere.
“Hollows Gathering” the opener of the album clocking at 9 minutes, is nice, but it’s a bit of an overkill, with its many parts – losing direction a bit, I suppose, being dissected in 2 songs might have worked a bit better.
“A Rescue Into the Storm” that follows it is hands down the best song of the album, a slightly progressive and highly melodic piece with a pearl of a chorus that doesn’t forget it’s power metal roots, either.
There are some more tracks, then, that are decent, but there, tends to be something that spoils them, ie, “Anymore” starts, as a tender female sung ballad, and gets into a rather weird territory, thus losing its appeal. Then there are more rather typical power metal songs, which are not real highlights. “The Keepers Game” however, that must be sung by ex-Iron Maiden singer Blaze Bailey (well – since the MP3 promos don’t have extra details – I can’t tell you crap – gone are the days, of real promos kids! Or at least proper press kits at least) is quite impressive with what I perceive as Blaze, bellowing a quite lower but, Messiah Marcolin like sort of doomy, delivery. Interesting.
Then there’s “The Dead Tree” a most bizarre track, with 70s influences and even psychedelic hints and among all that stuff female sweet vocals, Tim Ripper Owens and Carlos Zema, out-screaming each other. Ok. Not bad, but oh, Trippy?!
“Whispers Inside You” is at least a nice enough ballad, an a nice enough way to wind down, from all that screaming, previously. But even there, the singing, is throaty, hehehe, oh well, at least, it’s kinda nice!
Not, bad overall, but I couldn’ say, that I lost my head over it. If you liked the whole project and you’ve been following it, complete the “saga”, if not, check it out and make up your own mind.
“Hollows Gathering” the opener of the album clocking at 9 minutes, is nice, but it’s a bit of an overkill, with its many parts – losing direction a bit, I suppose, being dissected in 2 songs might have worked a bit better.
“A Rescue Into the Storm” that follows it is hands down the best song of the album, a slightly progressive and highly melodic piece with a pearl of a chorus that doesn’t forget it’s power metal roots, either.
There are some more tracks, then, that are decent, but there, tends to be something that spoils them, ie, “Anymore” starts, as a tender female sung ballad, and gets into a rather weird territory, thus losing its appeal. Then there are more rather typical power metal songs, which are not real highlights. “The Keepers Game” however, that must be sung by ex-Iron Maiden singer Blaze Bailey (well – since the MP3 promos don’t have extra details – I can’t tell you crap – gone are the days, of real promos kids! Or at least proper press kits at least) is quite impressive with what I perceive as Blaze, bellowing a quite lower but, Messiah Marcolin like sort of doomy, delivery. Interesting.
Then there’s “The Dead Tree” a most bizarre track, with 70s influences and even psychedelic hints and among all that stuff female sweet vocals, Tim Ripper Owens and Carlos Zema, out-screaming each other. Ok. Not bad, but oh, Trippy?!
“Whispers Inside You” is at least a nice enough ballad, an a nice enough way to wind down, from all that screaming, previously. But even there, the singing, is throaty, hehehe, oh well, at least, it’s kinda nice!
Not, bad overall, but I couldn’ say, that I lost my head over it. If you liked the whole project and you’ve been following it, complete the “saga”, if not, check it out and make up your own mind.