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Creation's End: A New Beginning
Creation's End A New Beginning album new music review

Creation's End: A New Beginning

Melodic Heavy/Progressive Metal
4.5/5.0

Sensory Records
www.creationsend.net
www.myspace.com/creationsendnyc
By Craig Hartranft,  11.14.2010

After years of development, determination, and bedevilment, New York City's Rudolph Albert (g) and Dario Rodriguez (d) see the fulfillment of their musical dreams in their new band Creation's End, and the debut work A New Beginning. Excepting those around the NYC area you may not recognize Albert and Rodriguez, but metal aficionados will know two other significant members. Creation's End includes Mike DiMeo (Masterplan, Riot) on vocals and Italian guitar wizard Marco Sfogli (James LaBrie, Shadrane, solo).

A New Beginning is a perfect example of why any band should not give up on their musical aspirations. Culled from original material written between 2003 and 2006, Albert and Rodriguez reworked their material, entered the studio with enthusiasm, and laid down the eight tracks here. The context is classic melodic heavy metal, but with a strong vein of power metal, both American and European, and a hint of progressiveness. The mood of the music is often dark and heavy as the song Dissociate, by example, proves. However, this atmosphere does not wholly darken the album by any means; it only puts the 'heavy' in the metal at the right time. Notes of prog complexity come within World Holocaust and Of Shadow and Flame. The latter, as does Relic, has an extremely rock/metal 'groove' pushing it along.

All this is somewhat surprising from a band born and raised in the USA. There's no hardcore musical signature here or the inclusion of dirty vocals. (There is a God!). Actually, Mr. DiMeo is, quite possibly, in his perfect element here (especially if you held him suspect in Riot or Masterplan as I did). His vocals fit Creation's End like hand in a velvet glove. And Sfogli easily bridges familiarity with technicality in his fret work. As for Albert, Rodriguez, and Joe Black (b, Chris Caffery, ex-Zandelle): listen to the epic adventure of Still Life and you will understand that these musicians enjoy their craft.

Creation's End's A New Beginning is a work to be experienced and savored. Is it the new beginning of American power/progressive metal? Is it nearly perfect? I wouldn't want to roll the dice or enter debate on either question.

But if founders Rudolph Albert and Dario Rodriguez had any vision of the greatness that they might achieve, then A New Beginning is a huge success. (But I'm not going to give them a perfect score: I don't want all this praise going to their heads!)

Strongly recommended.




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In Short

Creation's End's A New Beginning is a work to be experienced and savored. Is it the new beginning of American power/progressive metal? If founders Rudolph Albert and Dario Rodriguez had any vision of the greatness that they might achieve, then A New Beginning is a huge success.

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