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Whyzdom: Blind?
Whyzdom - Blind? Review

Whyzdom: Blind?

Melodic/Symphonic/Power Metal
4.5/5.0

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Scarlet Records
by Craig Hartranft,  11.03.2012

I'm guessing the pronunciation of the band name, Whyzdom, is meant to be said like the word 'wisdom.' While the phonetics may be suspect, one thing is not about this band and their second album Blind?: founder, guitarist, and composer Vynce Leff doesn't do any thing small or half way.

Whyzdom Photo

Whyzdom: 52 card pick up.

Blind? is a grand and large album. First, it has 11 songs, and times out at over 83 minutes. Prepare to have your attention span challenged; if you have ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), then you best break this album up in two parts, at the very least. Second, the arrangements are lavish and huge: from vocal arrangements, featuring Elvyne Lorient’s immense talent, to the symphonic orchestration, the bombastic rhythm section to the soaring guitar solos, this album borders between being majestically breathtaking and pompous exaggeration. Think Nightwish mixed with Rhapsody of Fire, and then square that.

Essentially then, Whyzdom and Blind? is philharmonic melodic heavy metal. But, while epic and bombastic as it may be, Whyzdom neither comprises the heavy metal or the melodic accessibility. To the former, The Spider and The Wolves are some of the heaviest, most metal, songs here. To the latter, On the Road to Babylon brews the metal with enough melodic groove and hooks to turn the tune into an arena quality anthem. Of course, being fundamentally and purposely grandiose and extravagant, there must be one song that straddles the fence of musical depth and simple over indulgence. That song would be the closing number, Cathedral of the Damned. Basically, you get it all in this one: every aforementioned musical element and descriptive adjective.

Basically, you can go two ways with Whyzdom and Blind?. Dismiss the band and this album as grossly extravagant and pompous, or embrace their lavish and entertaining interpretation of symphonic and melodic heavy metal. I'm not sure there's a middle road here. Frankly, there may be too much to consume. Perhaps they should have saved some material for the next album. Regardless, to these ears, Blind? is rather impressive and engaging. Overwhelmed, I succumbed to their epic symphonic heavy metal. Easily recommended.

Whyzdom: Enjoy 'The Lighthouse'.

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In Short

Basically, you can go two ways with Whyzdom and Blind?. Dismiss this as grossly extravagant and pompous, or embrace their lavish and entertaining interpretation of symphonic and melodic heavy metal. I'm not sure there's a middle road here. Overwhelmed, I succumbed to their epic symphonic heavy metal.

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