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Archon Angel: Fallen
Archon Angel - Fallen Album Art Work

Archon Angel: Fallen

Symphonic/Melodic/Power Metal
5.0/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 06.02.2020 | Released: 14.02.2020

The seeds of Archon Angel were planted when vocalist Zak Stevens (Savatage, Circle II Circle) met guitarist and producer Aldo Lonobile (Secret Sphere) while working on Timo Tolkki's Avalon's 2019 album Return To Eden. Apparently, Lonobile is a fan of early Savatage albums as well as Stevens' vocal style. The former presented some song ideas to the latter, and soon the duo were off to songwriting. Archon Angel was forming. Frontiers Music was onboard early and now Archon Angel's debut album, Fallen, will be hitting the streets. The album has a modest concept about an Archon, a modern day angel figure, who protects the people of Earth from various calamities.

Archon Angel - Click For Larger Image

Archon Angel's Zak Stevens

As for Archon Angel's musical style, you'll be hearing a hybrid mix of classic melodic, heavy, and power metal, then embellished with synth orchestration and lively piano lines. Aldo Lonobile is a wizard on the fret board, and you will enjoy his abundant and epic solos. Zak Stevens has long been one of the best heavy metal vocalists of the last 30 years. The fellow sounds better than ever, singing strong and clean and advancing the melody and harmony of every song. Speaking generally of song composition and sound, Lonobile was undoubtedly going for a Savatage-like feeling, and writing for Stevens' voice. So to mention a few songs then.

With one listen through, I was immediately taken by the songs that featured a classical piano line traversing through the symphonic power metal. These would include the title track Fallen, Under The Spell, and the closer, Return Of The Storm. In that last song the piano pairs with Steven's voice, and then later about 4'30" the ivories solos over drums before leading to a Lonobile guitar solo. Another song of interest is The Serpent, where lush orchestration envelopes heavy riffs and a strong beat for more steady heavy metal. Alternatively, Rise turns more upon power metal with faster pacing, all leading to another thrilling solo. Hit The Wall starts with the rhythm section developing a significant rock groove before Lonobile riffs drop in. The tune quickly develops into some seriously heavy, and quite catchy, heavy metal rock. Lastly, Brought To The Edge offers a symphonic ballad turning upon Steven's voice paired with acoustic guitar. In the end, the strengths of Archon Angel and the songs of Fallen are self-evident, the excellent and skillful song craftsmanship and the power and versatility and power of Zak Stevens' voice. It doesn't get much better than this. Quite recommended.


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The Bottom Line

The strengths of Archon Angel and the songs of Fallen are self-evident, the excellent and skillful song craftsmanship and the power and versatility and power of Zak Stevens' voice. It doesn't get much better than this. Quite recommended.

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