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Paralydium: Worlds Beyond

Melodic Progressive Metal

4.5/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 10.06.2020 | Released: 12.06.2020

Created in 2015 by ex-Dynazty guitarist John Berg as The Paralydium Project, and featuring Dynazty members bassist Jonathon Olsson and drummer George Harnsten Egg, the group quickly dropped a three song eponymous EP. Work on a full-length album began shortly after this. Now abbreviating their name to simply Paralydium, the band unleashes their debut longplayer, Worlds Beyond.

Paralydium

Suggesting influences from peers such as Symphony X and Pagan's Mind to Seventh Wonder and Dream Theater, Paralydium plays melodic progressive metal. However, I wouldn't necessarily call their arrangements highly technical. Rather than trying to amaze you with the wonders of twisting time signatures or tempos (they are there), Paralydium's compositions rally around the essentials of song melody and harmony, rhythm and groove, and a catchy refrain. In one sense, this is proven with the vocal arrangements where singer Mikael Sehlin easily follows and enhances the song melody with song Synergy an exceptional example. But even that song offers some prog trickery in the breakdown at four minutes. Synths and bass are heard, then some fine classical acoustic guitar, after which key and guitar solos follow. The tandem, perhaps dueling, key and guitar work is common elsewhere as within Within The Sphere or Finding The Paragon. Needless to say, next to song composition, musicianship is at a premium across this entire album.

For a few more song highlights, The Source has this quite rhythymic groove throughout the song and, in the latter half, the guitar solo floats over a jazzy rhythm section including a fine bass line. Seeker Of Light, one of the longer songs here, offers a juxtaposition of heaviness with lighter moments, and those lighter sections offer touches of piano and acoustic guitar wrapped in symphonic synths. It's powerful song. All in all, if you're a fan of melodic progressive metal and looking for some new heroes for the genre, then tune your ears to Paralydium and their debut album, Worlds Beyond. You will not be disappointed. Recommended.

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

If you're a fan of melodic progressive metal and looking for some new heroes for the genre, then tune your ears to Paralydium and their debut album, Worlds Beyond. You will not be disappointed. Recommended.

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