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Soulspell: Labyrinth of Truths
Soulspell Labyrinth of Truths Heleno Vale album new music review

Soulspell: Labyrinth of Truths

Melodic Heavy/Power Metal
4.0/5.0

Brazilian drummer Heleno Vale brings his second installment of the Soulspell metal opera Labyrinth of Truths. With the international success of the first part, A Legacy of Honor, Vale received some important recognition and so some help from some significant metal players. Jon Oliva [Jon Oliva’s Pain, Savatage], Roland Grapow [Masterplan,Helloween], Zak Stevens [Circle II Circle, Savatage] and Germán Pascual [ex. Narnia] have come on board to offer their well-known talents. Following its debut Labyrinth of Truths continues its ambitious focus on strong melodic heavy and power metal. Using words like grand, epic or majestic are not wasted on Vale's project.

The story continues from the first part; it also is rather ambitious and somewhat complex. You can read more of the story on the Soulspell web site. Musically, Labyrinth of Truths can move through very heavy arrangements as on the title track or the closing A Secret Compartment. Blistering power metal erupts throughout, as in Dark Prince's Dawn, keeping the pace lively at times. Mostly, however, each song is a fine blend of different musical elements, including quite thrilling vocal performances, to make Labyrinth of Truths a significant platter of progressive power metal. To that end, there is a terrific amount of action going on here that will require giving the work several listens. With this appreciation, I found Labyrinth of Truths on the whole to be quite challenging and entertaining. Specifically, the songs Amon's Fountain (absolutely brilliant) and The Verve are the stand out pieces here.

With a cast of international stars to help him, drummer Heleno Vale has created another ambitious work of melodic heavy metal for Labyrinth of Truths, the second part of his metal opera Soulspell. Very recommended,




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In Short

With a cast of international stars to help him, drummer Heleno Vale has created another ambitious work of melodic heavy metal for Labyrinth of Truths, the second part of his metal opera Soulspell.

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