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Lunar Explosion: Lunar Explosion

Melodic/Heavy/Power Metal

3.5/5.0

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Scarlet Records
by Craig Hartranft,  11.21.2013

Lunar Explosion is a young upstart band from Italy, but not without some significant experience in the three short years of existence. Despite their youth, on the strength of a four song demo recording, the band has been selected to open for several important acts including Michael Angelo Batio, Blaze Bayley, Elvenking, and Domine.

Lunar Explosion:: in outer space.

Lunar Explosion chosen metal style is basic, and classic, European melodic power metal, with a strong emphasis on twin lead guitars. Actually, if they wanted to give a title to their debut album, they could have called it 'Guitar Explosion'. Most every song from the start has a dashing guitar line flowing in the tune. And that's not counting the several solos in every song, which are mostly neo-classical in style.

While not diminishing the entirety of the album, the guitar work is probably Lunar Explosion's single greatest strength. The power metal is rather typical of the genre, the lead vocals and vocal arrangements average, and the production a bit spotty on some songs, with some songs sounding like certain parts were dropped in later as an afterthought. While the guitar leads are flying everywhere, some of the best are found within Lunar Explosion, From Beyond, and The King of Judea, which are also some the best songs here. The metal ballad/anthem When The Sun No Longer Shines, not so much; it basically shows the limitations of Raffaele Smaldone's voice and the weakness of the vocal arrangements. But it does have another cool guitar solo. If you like your power metal with lots of big guitar leads, then you'll want to get this album.

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

The strength of Lunar Explosion is their twin lead guitar work whereas their melodic power metal is rather average.

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The Powell Payne project, created in 2022 is the collaboration of Mark "Penfold Powell (ex-drummer of Psycho Kiss) and Adam Payne (former vocalist of Airrace). With guitarist Adam Davies and keyboard player ... [ Read More ]