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October 2024

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[ More Music Reviews ]

Lunar Shadow: The Smokeless Fires

Melodic Heavy Metal

4.5/5.0

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Cruz Del Sure Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 19.06.2019 | Released: 21.06.2019

German metal quintet Lunar Shadow, created and directed by songwriter and guitarist Max Birbaum, disturbed the force of the metal underground with their surprising and ambitious 2017 debut album, Far From Light. Drawing deeply from the well of classic heavy metal, Lunar Shadow delivered an album filled with thriving songs and thrilling guitar work. Now the band returns with their second effort, The Smokeless Fires, which introduces new vocalist Robert Rottig.

Lunar Shadow

Once more with Birbaum at the helm Lunar Shadow offers another album of guitar-forward classic melodic heavy metal wrapped in intriguing arrangements. The twin guitar harmony is self-evident and Birbaum's solos are both creative and vibrant. While you'll find explosive guitar solos, Birbaum has taken to twisting his arrangements with more piano and acoustic guitar parts. You'll hear the piano rise with Catch Fire. Within Roses, Birbaum uses acoustic and electric guitar parts as complimenting musical foils. For Pretend, the song turns on the interplay of both light piano and guitar in a somber arrangement with Rottig's voice lilting above. Alternatively, Laurelindorenan finds Lunar Shadow returning to more epic heavy metal combining riff harmony with brisk pacing to lead to a fiery guitar solo. But that's not before Birbaum drops a subtle acoustic guitar breakdown in the middle. Hawk Of The Hills bristles with large and sharp guitar parts throughout, yet also allows for contrasting short acoustic guitar with voice breakdowns in three parts. In the end, Lunar Shadow's The Smokeless Fires is simply another exceptional, intriguing, and entertaining album of guitar-infused traditional melodic heavy metal. Easily recommended.

Stargazery: Eye On The Sky (Reissue)

Melodic Heavy Metal

4.0/5.0

In advance of their forthcoming third long player Constellation, Pure Steel will reissue Stargazery debut album, 2011's Eye On The Sky. The re-release on vinyl will ... [ Read More ]

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

Lunar Shadow's The Smokeless Fires is simply another exceptional, intriguing, and entertaining album of guitar-infused traditional melodic heavy metal. Easily recommended.

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By far, Sweden's Eclipse is one of my favorite bands. Always consistent and always entertaining, Eclipse has been delivering their 21st century version of melodic metal rock since songwriter, producer ... [ Read More ]