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Illusion Force: Halfana
Illusion Force - Halfana Album Art

Illusion Force: Halfana

Japanese Progressive Power Metal
4.5/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 17.12.2024 | Released: 13.12.2024

Arriving from the Land of the Rising Sun, Illusion Force is metal quintet that has been active and successful in their native Japan since 2018. Their debut album, The World Soul dropped as an independent release in 2019. This was followed quickly in the same year by the EP, Alive. Illusion Force's second long player, 2021's Illusion Paradise, found the band signed to Japan's prominent media label, King Records, and distributed through their affiliate Seven Seas.

Two years later, in 2023, the band would offer their first live album and DVD, 2022 Live Show Re: Illusion Paradise Tour Final Hall One Man. Wherein they played Illusion Paradise in its entirety, among other songs. Now, signed to Frontiers Music, Illusion Force is destined for more international appeal with their latest and third studio album, Halfana.

Illusion Force - Click For Larger Image

Illusion Force

Illusion Force comments: "After an exhilarating experience of performing and recording around Japan for the last 5 years, we can finally announce our first worldwide album release! It was a great challenge to properly utilize the elegance and versatility of Japanese music, but we think the end result will be a great listen! Please, check it out!"


CTaking ideas from Japanese folklore, spirituality, anime, manga, and music Illusion Force plays, essentially, fast and heavy, power metal. There may be sublime moments invoking Japanese music as within The Serene Valley, Illusion Paradise, of Kaleidoscopic, to name a few, but even these songs eventually get fast and heavy.

Then there's the straight up speed monsters like Halfana or Miracle Superior, wherein Illusion Force becomes a Japanese version of England's Dragonforce. If the latter is Mach 5 hypersonic, then Illusion Force is definitely Mach 4 supersonic. Finally, as with their previous album, Halfana includes a four part suite, Hibari, where Illusion Force molds their music with the intricacy of (really fast) progressive power metal.

All in all, if you enjoy your power metal with supersonic speed but also invoking some technicality of progressive metal, you will enjoy Illusion Force's Halfana. Definitely recommended, especially if you like Dragonforce or Helloween.



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The Take Away

If you enjoy your power metal with supersonic speed but also invoking some technicality of progressive metal, you will enjoy Illusion Force's Halfana. Definitely recommended, especially if you like Dragonforce or Helloween.

Support the artist, click the link below to buy the album at Amazon (US site) in your favorite format.

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