Self-Launched
Unencumber Date: September twenty sixth, 2024
Style: Revolutionary Energy Steel
Hyperlinks: https://www.fb.com/flashbackofanger
Line Up:
Alessio Gori – Vocals, Keyboards
Gianmarco Lotti – Guitars
Marco Moroni – Bass
Lorenzo Innocenti – Drums
Tracklist:
1. Introspection
2. Peculiar
3. Name to Fingers
4. Able to Combat
5. Enemy’s Eyes
6. Part Mast
7. Dreaming House
8. The place I Belong
9. Neverending Ideas
Italian innovative energy steel band Flashback of Anger, are a type of bands I’ve been conscious about for a very long time, and at all times discovered their tune stress-free, however they’ve by no means totally blown me away. I first found out them across the time in their 2d complete period unencumber, T.S.R, which took a while to develop on me, however I stopped up playing it after some time, and I used to be additionally entertained by way of their different two recently launched albums. They’re now set to unencumber their fourth album, the struggle themed idea album, Prisoner of Battle, and after a number of listens, I feel it could simply be their highest paintings up to now!
At a primary look, now not a lot has modified for the band since their earlier album, Sun shades, because the lineup stays the similar, and stylistically they nonetheless play the similar logo of melodic prog, with a good quantity of energy steel taste to head together with it. On the other hand, Prisoner of Battle is their first self-produced, self-released album up to now, and it’s noticeable within the sound high quality, which nonetheless sounds superb, with all tools coming throughout properly, however the manufacturing taste undoubtedly feels a bit of extra uncooked and old-school sounding than any in their earlier albums. On earlier albums, band chief Alessio Gori has at all times led the best way along with his keys and vocals, whilst different tools performed extra of a secondary position, which isn’t as a lot the case this time. Clearly, the keys and vocals are nonetheless very outstanding, however guitars also are extra noticeable this time round, frequently taking the lead on many tracks, whilst the keys are used principally for environment and taste, and don’t frequently sound as upbeat as on earlier albums, in all probability because of the full darker, extra mature tone of the album. Drums also are very noticeable, with maximum tracks having a number of pace adjustments, so Lorenzo Innocenti must trade between being extra intense and extra laid again along with his drums relatively ceaselessly, and he does a very good task of that. Gianmarco Lotti is given so much to paintings with in this album, with some very technical lead guitar paintings every now and then, some heavy, chunky riffs, some great melodic leads and a few very good, vintage prog taste guitar solos.
Whilst I discovered earlier albums from the band to be a reasonably even mixture of prog and tool steel, Prisoner of Battle feels extra like a vintage prog album, frequently reminding me of the likes of Dream Theater and 7th Surprise, whilst energy steel remains to be provide however in large part briefly bursts, in particular within the center stretch of the album, the place maximum songs are atmospheric and reasonably laid again with their pace, most effective dashing up in short. Energy steel lovers do have a good quantity to sit up for, from explosive opener “Peculiar”, to the ultimate trio of tracks, which all have a number of extra up pace passages and hovering melodies. Talking of which, Alessio Gori does a perfect task as a keyboardist, as same old, however this time round his vocals are the place he actually shines. He has sa mooth, slightly prime pitched voice, and he particularly excels on melodic, hovering choruses, although he’s additionally very emotive in this album, and he sounds superb even all over the calm, extra restrained sections, of which there are masses. In all probability because of the character of the concept that, the tune does really feel a bit of extra dialed again every now and then, slowly development as much as explosive moments as an alternative of going all out from the beginning, and the band does a actually excellent task of that. Lyrically, the album is concerning the horrors of struggle, the joy of serving one’s nation, and the lingering trauma that comes later on. It’s an excessively darkish album thematically, and one that is sadly very a lot grounded in fact, with how grim the arena has been having a look in recent times.
Shifting directly to the songwriting, which is a space the place the album excels, as each and every monitor is superb by itself, and all of it comes in combination very easily. As anticipated from an idea album, there’s a temporary intro monitor, which has some very atmospheric, very chilling pianos and keyboards, slowly build up in depth because it is going on, main into the explosive opener, “Peculiar”. This monitor opens up with a pleasing mixture of heavy rhythm guitars and really vintage prog sounding keys, with an upbeat really feel to them. The lyrics are a couple of younger guy getting ready to go away his house and pass to struggle, so it has extra of an upbeat really feel in comparison to later tracks. The outlet verse alternates between softer sections, and extra upbeat passages, with some really nice melodic guitar leads. The refrain speeds issues up, and has a pleasing mixture of explosive drums, heavy guitars and upbeat keys, in addition to a few of the ones epic, hovering vocal melodies, which Gori excels at. It’s some of the catchiest, maximum in an instant attractive tracks at the album, whilst nonetheless surroundings the tone properly. It’s a very good monitor total, with the overall run in the course of the refrain being particularly nice. Subsequent is “Name to Fingers”, a slower paced, however nonetheless reasonably upbeat monitor, the place the guitars begin to take over, with some great melodic ends up in get started issues off, main right into a gradual, atmospheric opening verse, with some chunky riffs, gentle keys and gradual, however intense drums. Maximum tracks have a bridge (and even a couple of bridges), which do a pleasing task of creating as much as the refrain, and that is one in every of them, easily transitioning into an upbeat, melodic refrain, with some implausible melodies. It’s a extra restrained monitor for many of its period, although that refrain is relatively a laugh and catchy, with the accelerated ultimate run being implausible, and there’s additionally a actually great, melodic guitar solo within the center.
The album begins settling into a pleasing rhythm with “Able to Combat”, a moderately extra keyboard pushed monitor, with gentle keys lingering within the background all over many of the monitor. Darkish, heavy guitars cleared the path in the course of the verses, which might be as soon as once more very moody and do a pleasing task of slowly build up in opposition to the bridge, which is moderately speedier and extra intense, whilst the refrain has a pleasing mixture of heavy guitar paintings and hovering vocals, with the vocal melodies take me back to the fact of a few Rush tracks. It’s a gloomy, sinister sounding monitor, total, although the refrain gives a tiny little bit of levity, with its upbeat melodies. There’s an out of this world, prolonged solo within the center, in addition to some great keys. Subsequent is “Enemy’s Eyes”, which opens up with a rapid, vintage energy steel infused instrumental phase, with Maiden influenced lead guitar paintings, accompanied by way of upbeat keys and lightning rapid drums. The pace quickly slows down for the outlet verse, which has some chunky riffs, accompanied by way of atmospheric keys, and a few slightly deep, intense vocals from Gori. There’s some great piano paintings, transitioning easily into the bridge, which is moderately extra upbeat, earlier than the refrain slows issues backtrack and may be very subdued, with each the instrumental paintings and vocals being melodic, but reasonably calm and laid again. There’s an explosive instrumental phase in opposition to the top, the place the facility steel influences go back, however for probably the most section, it’s an excessively moody, gradual paced monitor.
The slowest paced and in all probability darkest monitor at the album, is “Part Mast”, which is in large part led by way of a really nice drum trend, with a particular groove, accompanied by way of atmospheric keys, gentle guitar paintings or even lighter vocals, It’s an excessively darkish, atmospheric monitor, which slowly builds up in opposition to a heavy, intense refrain, which does pace issues up a bit of, nevertheless it’s nonetheless very darkish in its sound and lyrical content material, because the horrors of struggle are totally learned. Out of all tracks at the album, it took the longest time to develop on me, because of how gradual it’s, and what sort of time it takes to completely increase, however through the years I’ve come to understand it’s a super monitor, each musically and lyrically, and it’s in truth one in every of my favorites at the album. Issues get started dashing up a bit of with “Dreaming House”, which opens up with a fast paced instrumental phase, with heavy, but very technical guitar paintings, rapid drums and upbeat keys. The verse slows issues down a bit of, however nonetheless has an positive, upbeat really feel to each the keys and melodic guitar leads, in addition to Gori’s vocals. The pace choices up all over the bridge, earlier than slowing down for a gradual, melodic refrain, with some very emotive vocals from Gori. There’s a temporary guitar solo within the center, with an upbeat energy steel really feel to it, although issues decelerate after that, for a extra emotional sounding guitar solo, which is without doubt one of the highest at the album, and it has an excessively vintage prog really feel to it.
My favourite monitor at the album is “The place I Belong”, which once more opens up with a blistering rapid instrumental phase, with rapid and livid drums, melodic guitar paintings and playful keys. As same old, issues decelerate all over the outlet verse, which has a mixture of heavy guitars and extra dramatic keys, blended with cushy, deep vocals. The monitor has a sorrowful really feel to it, because the younger guy feels uncomfortable and misplaced even again house, following his struggle enjoy. It alternates properly between upbeat passages, and slower passages, with the verses having some heavy drums and lightweight vocals, whilst the bridge is explosive and rapid, and the refrain is gradual however very stunning, with some implausible vocal melodies, an excessively emotive vocal efficiency by way of Gori. The instrumental phase additionally has a bit of of the entirety, beginning off with rapid energy steel, earlier than slowing down for extra of a prog sound, after which the overall, accelerated run in the course of the refrain is exceptional. Final out the album is “Neverending Ideas”, which begins off with extra heavy guitar paintings and explosive drums, main right into a fast paced, heavy opening verse, with epic keys including additional taste. The refrain may be very gradual, melodic, and emotional, whilst lots of the instrumental passages are complete throttle, so there’s a pleasing stability between the 2 types, in addition to an out of this world solo phase in opposition to the center. The again part of the monitor has a series of voice samples, taken from other motion pictures, which do a pleasing task of surroundings the tone for the lyrics and total sorrowful really feel of the monitor and album as an entire.
As I said originally of this evaluation, I’ve at all times appreciated Flashback of Anger’s tune, however I had by no means been totally inspired with them, up till now. With Prisoner of Battle, they’ve taken a moderately extra restrained, extra atmospheric and extra emotional solution to their tune, whilst nonetheless providing lovers a number of nice vintage prog infused musicianship, a number of implausible choruses, and a few strains of rapid, melodic energy steel. It’s a very good album, which showcases the band at their highest, and whilst the extra laid again method would possibly take time for some lovers to get used to, I’m certain they’ll come to realize it through the years. Prog/energy steel lovers searching for a very good idea album, would undoubtedly be smartly urged to offer the album a shot, because it’s a very good album from begin to end.
Rankings: 9/10
Written by way of: Travis Inexperienced
My International Thoughts – Workforce Creator
Travis Inexperienced is a Canadian primarily based author for My International Thoughts, with a selected hobby for energy steel, in addition to an hobby steel in all its paperwork.
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