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New Music Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal, AOR, Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal
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Secret Rule: The Key To The World
Secret Rule: The Key To The World
Melodic/Symphonic/Power Metal
3.5/5.0
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Pride & Joy Music
Review: Craig Hartranft
Added: 01.11.2017
Once more to the well we go. Or as one such sage has said: there's nothing new under the sun. Secret Rule returns with their third album in the same number of years, The Key To The World. From Italy (I'm so surprised), Secret Rule is another female-fronted melodic and symphonic heavy power metal band. Which means, you know the drill; you know what to expect.
Secret Rule
And that's to say there's little difference or divergence from their previous album Machination. Secret Rule expertly blends the essential elements of the genre: power metal riffs, symphonic orchestration, immense vocal arrangements, blazing solos, and hard rock groove. Everything here is equally bombastic and grandiose, predictable and redundant. It's like having your favorite cheese cake smothered in sweet cherries and fudge with a side of your most decadent chocolate candy. Ouch. Those were some ugly metaphors. The question then is, does anything really stand out? Something that makes Secret Rule get a leg up on the competition. Not much, not really. But Angela Di Vincenzo is an exceptional vocalist, more a rock and metal singer then an operatic one. And Andy Menario can rip off some spicy leads. Otherwise, Secret Rule and The Key To The World is basically common fodder for the melodic symphonic power metal genre. You could do worse (much worse). It did sound really good in my car stereo. Recommended if you like Delain, Serenity, Epica, or Within Temptation.
The Bottom Line
Secret Rule and The Key To The World is basically common fodder for the melodic symphonic power metal genre. You could do worse (much worse). Recommended if you like Delain, Serenity, Epica, or Within Temptation.
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Formed 23 years ago, Finland's Excalion has had a turbulent musical career. Before releasing a trio of albums between 2005 and 2010, they had personnel changes. Currently, only the drummer and keyboard ... [ Read More ]