• New Music Reviews
• |
• Archives
• |
• News
• |
• Submissions
• |
• About
• |
• 
• |
• 

September 2023

• Rockett Love: Galactic Circus
• Kerrigan: Bloodmoon
• Taz: Shipwrecked, Vol 2
• Taz: Wake Up & Sweat, Vol 1
• Ronnie Romero: Too Many Lies, Too Many Masters
• The Flower Kings: Look At You Now
• Vega: Battlelines
• Blackbird Angels: Solsorte
• Primal Fear: Code Red
• Eclipse: Megalomanium
• Seventh Wonder: Mercy Falls (Reissue 2008/2023)
• Seventh Wonder: The Great Escape (Reissue 2010/2023)

August 2023

• Hurricane: Reconnected
• U.D.O.: Touchdown
• Streetlight: Ignition
• Sarayasign: The Lion's Road
• Neal Morse: The Dreamer - Joseph - Part One
• Rian: Wings
• Icon Of Sin: Legends
• Lancer: Tempest
• King Kobra: We Are Warriors
• Dark Sky: Signs Of The Time
• Hell In The Club: F.U.B.A.R.
• Kent Hilli: Nothing Left To Lose

July 2023

• Turkish Delight: Volume Two
• Winterstorm: Everfrost
• Scream Maker: Land Of Fire
• James Robledo: Broken Soul
• Houston: Relaunch III
• All For Metal: Legends
• Withering Scorn: Prophets Of Demise
• Bloodbound: Tales From The North
• Kikimora: For A Broken Dime
• Degreed: Public Address

June 2023

• Night Legion: Fight Or Fall
• Midnite City: In At The Deep End
• Pyramaze: Bloodlines
• Shakra: Invincible
• Vypera: Race Of Time
• Stardust: Kingdom Of Illusion
• Pride Of Lions: Dream Higher
• Joel Hoekstra's 13: Crash Of Life
• The Defiants: Drive
• Ray Alder: II
• Art Nation: Inception
• False Memories: Hybrid Ego System

[ More Music Reviews ]

Borealis: Illusions

Melodic/Progressive/Power Metal

4.0/5.0

Facebook Twitter
AFM Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 04.10.2022 | Released: 07.10.2022

A long time presence in the Canadian metal underground, Ontario's Borealis returns with their sixth studio album, Illusions. The recording is a second chapter in the concept/story begun with 2018's The Offering. The original story concerned an ancient cult using child sacrifice in hopes of issuing in a new world order. Illusion continues the story from the children's perspective. I can't tell you more about the latter as I did not receive lyrics with my digital promotional material.

Borealis

As you would expect, the album and concept is arranged within Borealis' signature, hard and heavy, progressive power metal. Which consists, in its foundation, of strong riffs, an assertive rhythm section, notable orchestration, blazing guitar solos, and generally melodic and harmonious vocal arrangements (although, in the mix, vocalist Matt Marinelli can seem muted). Adding to the depth and breadth of the arrangements is the contributions of composer and multi-instrumentalist Vikram Shankar, perhaps best known for his work with Redemption. His influence is across the entire album, yet quite expansive within Light Of The Sun, The Phantom Silence, My Fortress, and the softer Burning Tears which feature female vocalist Lynsey Ward. Otherwise, you'll find some rough and tumble, quite speedy, power metal with Believer and intermittently with Ashes To Rain and its chunky riffs. All this to say, Illusions finds Borealis going from strength to strength with their consistent, constant, and creative progressive power metal, made even more lavish and expansive with the orchestral and synth contributions of Redemption's Vik Shankar. Recommended.

Support the Artist & Dangerdog Music Reviews: This title is available, with unlimited streaming, via an Amazon Music account.

Illusions finds Borealis going from strength to strength with their consistent, constant, and creative progressive power metal, made even more lavish and expansive with the orchestral and synth contributions of Redemption's Vik Shanker. Recommended.

Alphabetical Index

Formed in 1999 by singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Erik Martensson, Sweden's Eclipse is well into their third decade of making music. In the recent past, their recordings and reputation have ... [ Read More ]

• Users: 5,886
• New Users: 5,190
• Sessions: 11,867
• Pageviews: 39,298
• Pages/Session: 3.31
• Bounce Rate: 10.19%

Source: Google Analytics