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Darkology: Altered Reflections

Heavy Metal

Rating: 5.0/5.0

Rock-a-holics Records
www.myspace.com/darkologymetal
www.darkology.com
Review: Tim Carroll,  06.14.2010

Dangerdog Music Reviews welcomes back former contributor Tim Carroll with a guest review. Thanks, Tim!

Altered Reflections is the first CD from supergroup Darkology. The band consists of the workaholic Harris brothers, Michael (Thought Chamber, Vitalilj Kuprij, Michael Harris, Arch Rival, Surgeon, etc.) on guitar, Brian (Solstice, My Own Victim, Firewind, Vain Glory, KenZiner, etc) on drums, bassist Mike Neal (Salems Lot, Black Widow) and the vocals of Kelly Sundown Carpenter (Beyond Twilight, Outworld.) It was released on Rock-a-holics Records, and is definitely a disc that you want to get your hands on as quickly as possible.

I don't know much about Rock-a-holics Records but they certainly do have a winner here. Not only do they offer you over 54 minutes of killer metal, but it comes in a pretty impressive package as well. Two pages of the insert are dedicated to each of these tracks and include lyrics and individualized artwork. I rarely look at inserts these days, but like a good novel I found it hard to put the Altered Reflections booklet down.

Musically, there really aren't any other bands out there that are a good comparison for Darkology. These guys combine the sophistication of a quality prog rock band with the brutal heaviness of your favorite thrash or speed metal band. Not only will fans of heavy power metal bands such as Nevermore really dig this CD, but anyone that is into any type of metal or prog rock will appreciate this masterpiece. In an age when most bands look to jump on the latest trends Darkology has forgone convention and released a truly groundbreaking disc.

The lyrics are just as interesting as the music. A glance through song titles like "Violent Vertigo," "Eyes Of Argus," "Aura of Xhad," and "Trance Of The Gorgons," to name a few, should tell you that Darkology isn't locked into the typical pissed-off-at-the-world or sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll themes. There was actually a lot of thought and effort that went into them, just like everything else presented here.

To be honest, I am slightly biased towards Darkology. Nowadays there are so many great guitarists in the world it might be impossible to say who the "best" guitarist out there actually is. However I can say without a doubt that Michael Harris is my personal favorite and has been for quite some time. While Michael can shred the fretboard with the best of them, it is his songwriting ability that really separates him from the pack in my book. His talent is always obvious, but his music is much more than a showcase of his talent. It should only take you one listen through Altered Reflections and you will know exactly what I am talking about.

I could go on but by now you have probably guessed that I really dig Darkology's first release Altered Reflections. It offers a fresh new take on our favorite old type of rock-n-roll. All metal bands out there need to take notice; it's time to up you game, the bar has been raised.

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

I really dig Darkology's first release Altered Reflections. It offers a fresh new take on our favorite old type of rock-n-roll. All metal bands out there need to take notice; it's time to up you game, the bar has been raised.

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