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Boersma Records
Review: Craig Hartranft
Added: 27.09.2017
I've never heard of and know little about Breaking Samsara, and the press release for their latest album isn't all that revealing. But we can cull a few things from it and Internet sources. Breaking Samsara is from Germany; they released a self-titled debut album in 2011; and, in the Spring of this year, the band was adopted by the Wacken Foundation. Now they drop their second long player, Light Of A New Beginning with songs written over the past several years.
To make a broad statement at the start, musically speaking, I liked everything about this album, including most every song. Breaking Samsara basically plays a modern version of classic melodic hard rock, and then drops in some notable metal edge, only to have all of this wrapped in AOR accessibility. The songs are loaded to the brim and overflowing with melody, harmony, and groove. Guitar solos are abundant and sizzling. Although not always heard that clearly, guitarist and vocalist Jan Reinert has powerful, passion, and melodic voice, which easily carries the melodies. And the tunes are riff with hooks in those melodies, riffs, and catchy refrains.
For some of that metal edge, you get it right from the start with Restless Nights, driven by sharp riffage and a pulsating pace, and then lit up with a fiery guitar solos. But there's also Scarsoul that nears a power metal vibe, or the swift riff-roaring End Of A Hero and Money Ain't Worth A Dime. Alternatively, Rebel At Heart, while bold, rolls more like a classic hard rocker. Yet of equal interest are the several songs that have a piano line presence such as Bye Bye Baby, but more significantly Light Of A New Beginning and Time For Things To Change. Yet all these ramp up quickly into strong melodic hard rock tunes.
Needless to say, Breaking Samsara's Light Of A New Beginning impressed me, especially the expert and entertaining blend of AOR melodic hard rock with a metal edge. Easily recommended.
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Breaking Samsara's Light Of A New Beginning impressed me, especially they're expert and entertaining blend of AOR melodic hard rock with a metal edge. Easily recommended.
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