Recent Reviews

March 2023

February 2023

January 2023

December 2022

[ More Music Reviews ]


Assignment: Reflections
Assignment - Reflections Album Art

Assignment: Reflections

Progressive Power Metal
4.0/5.0

Four years on from their previous album, 2016's Closing The Circle, Germany's Assignment returns with their fifth studio album, Reflections. The album finds the band with a permanent (for now) lead singer in Diego Valdez, and introduces new drummer Michael Kolar and guest vocalist Ines Vera-Ortiz.

Assignment - Click For Larger Image

Assignment

Musically, Assignment strays little from past recordings, playing aggressive progressive power metal. Between the sharp riffage, roaring rhythm section, and Valdez' assertive, often raging, vocals, some Assignment songs can be distilled to three adjectives: fast, heavy, and intense. You'll certainly hear this with Mercyful Angel, Obsession, or Submission, by example. But Assignment can also mix things up. A song like Unknown Hero turns more upon progressive metal rather than racing power metal, and also offers some fine piano moments and symphonic synths. Reflections is softened at the start by female choral vocals, before the song quickly becomes a heavy, steady, and dense prog workout. Vocalist Ines Vera-Ortiz is heard sharing lead vocals with Valdez within Endlessly, something of prog power ballad or anthem. The song has a significant vocal breakdown with piano around the six minute mark. Be sure to listen for it. After the stunning instrumental opening song, Trilogia Balkanica, Endlessly is probably my favorite song here. Overall, if you're an Assignment fan or simply enjoy lightly complex, yet heavy and intense, progressive power metal you will enjoy Assignment's latest album, Reflections.



CraigHartranft.net - New fiction, crime fiction by Craig Hartranft

The Bottom Line

If you're an Assignment fan or simply enjoy lightly complex, yet heavy and intense, progressive power metal you will enjoy Assignment's latest album, Reflections.

Find A Review

Alphabetical Index

a b c d e f g h i j
k l m n o p q r s t
u v w x y z #
Album of the Week
Read the Excalion: Once Upon A Time Album Review

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 ]