• New Music Reviews
• |
• Archives
• |
• News
• |
• Submissions
• |
• About
• |
• 
• |
• 

April 2024

• Vanden Plas: The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things
• Praying Mantis: Defiance
• King Zebra: Between The Shadows
• About Us: Take A Piece
• Blue Oyster Cult: Ghost Stories

March 2024

• Cruzh: The Jungle Revolution
• Whom Gods Destroy: Insanium
• The Prog Collective: Dark Encounters
• Lords Of Black: Mechanics Of Predacity
• Lipz: Changing The Melody
• The End Machine: The Quantum Phase
• Stargate: Escaping The Illusion
• Turbulence: Binary Dream
• Sonata Arctica: Clear Cold Beyond
• D'Luna: Monster
• Big Big Train: The Likes Of Us
• Benjamin Croft: We Are Here To Help

February 2024

• Traveler: Prequel To Madness
• Lionheart: The Grace Of A Dragonfly
• Honeymoon Suite: Alive
• Durbin: Screaming Steel
• Smoking Snakes: Danger Zone
• Revolution Saints: Against The Winds
• Striker: Ultrapower
• Show N Tell: The Ritual Has Begun
• Robert Hart: Circus Life

January 2024

• Corvus: Immortals
• Caligula's Horse: Charcoal Grace
• Grand: Second To None
• Neal Morse: The Restoration - Joseph - Part Two
• The Rods: Rattle The Cage
• Gotus: Gotus
• Metalite: Expedition One
• Cobrakill: Serpent's Kiss
• Jack Russell & Tracii Guns: Medusa
• Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 1
• The Grandmaster: Black Sun

[ More Music Reviews ]

Serious Black: Suite 226

Melodic/Heavy/Power Metal

4.5/5.0

Website Facebook Twitter
AFM Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 29.01.2020 | Released: 31.01.2020

Six years on, and now a quartet with new drummer Ramy Ali (Iron Mask), Serious Black keeps charging on, now arriving with their fifth studio album Suite 226. Not unlike 2017's Magic, this album tells a story. Serious Black explains:

Suite 226 tells a complete narrative of a mentally confused man who is torn between his own dream world, reality and evil. The protagonist has been held captive for many years in the dismal, cold padded cell number 226, the inhuman condition of the rotten psychiatry driving him insane. In his imagination he is the mighty king who lives in his feudal castle surrounded by courtesans, good food and wine and commands an invincible army. Staggering between illusion and reality, he continues to be drawn into the maelstrom of madness, his life becomes a ride through purgatory accompanied by demons, anxiety attacks and paranoia.

Serious Black

Once more, the story is brought to life by Serious Black's hybrid of melodic, heavy, and power metal. Expect the usual suspects: brisk harmonious riffage, power metal pacing and rock groove from the rhythm section, abundant ambitious solos, and Urban Breed's familiar clean and melodic vocals. Within the arrangements, you'll hear a sprinkling of synths, often for symphonic embellishment.

As for the songs, if you're a Serious Black fan, you will once more enjoy the variety in the arrangements. I was more partial to the songs where the power metal also featured a strong melody and rock groove. This would include such tunes as Let It Go, Castiel, We Will Stand Tall, and especially the catchy Fate Of All Humanity, which turns more upon melodic metal rock. A metal ballad arrives with Come Home which, like any good metal anthem should, rises to a guitar solo crescendo. The album wraps up with the title track where the arrangement allows musicians to stretch their talents in progressive power metal. All in all, if you've enjoyed what Serious Black has done in the past, you will not be disappointed with Suite 226, another entertaining album of their engaging melodic heavy power metal. Recommended.

Revolution Saints: Rise

Melodic Hard Rock

5.0/5.0

Third time's the charm. The Frontiers Music handcrafted super trio Revolution Saints returns with their third studio album Rise. In case you've been living on the ... [ Read More ]

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

All in all, if you've enjoyed what Serious Black has done in the past, you will not be disappointed with Suite 226, another entertaining album of their engaging melodic heavy power metal. Recommended.

Alphabetical Index

Three years have passed since Sweden's Cruzh dropped their second long-player, Tropical Thunder, also introducing their new singer, Alex Waghorn. Now the band returns with The Jungle Revolution ... [ Read More ]