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July 2025

• Honeymoon Suite: Wake Me Up When The Sun Goes Down
• Ramonda: The Walls Are Crumbling Down
• Scardust: Souls
• Laguna: The Ghost Of Katrina
• Eternal Idol: Behind A Vision
• Double Vision: Double Vision

April/May 2025

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• Giant: Stand And Deliver
• Sign Of The Wolf: Sign Of The Wolf
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• Beholder: In the Temple of the Tyrant
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March 2025

• W.E.T.: Apex
• Alliance: Before Our Eyes
• Ginevra: Beyond Tomorrow
• Phil X & The Drills:
  Pow! Right In The Kisser
• IQ: Dominion
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February 2025

• Robin McAuley: Soulbound
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January 2025

• Wildness: Avenger
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• Labyrinth: In The Vanishing Echoes Of Goodbye
• Bonfire: Higher Ground
• The Big Deal: Electrified
• Landfall: Wide Open Sky

December 2024

• After Lapse: Pathways
• Illusion Force: Halfana
• Powell-Payne: Voilá

[ More Music Reviews ]

Scardust: Souls

Symphonic Progressive Metal

4.0/5.0

Official Site Facebook Instagram YouTube
Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 23.07.2025 | Released: 18.07.2025

Hailing from Israel, and having success from UK to Europe to China, is female-fronted metal band, Scardust. Formed in 2015, the quintet has one EP and two long players (2017's Sands Of Time and 2020's Strangers, all well received and respected by press and listeners alike. They return with their latest and third album, Souls, now with Italy's Frontiers Music. This is my first experience with the band; I'm not sure how well known they are these United States.

Scardust

Of the new album, Scardust said: Souls is a deep personal journey for us, combining everything from intricate progressive elements to sweeping symphonic passages, anthemic choruses and epic choirs. This album is a milestone for the band. It contains the Scardust DNA while experimenting with different writing and composing methods, involving every single musician in the band, resulting in the creation of the next evolution of our sound and pushing the boundaries of what we can express through music ... and featuring the Hellscore choir and a string quartet throughout the entire album plus guest appearances from some international top tier musicians like Ross Jennings (Haken), Ally Storch (Subway to Sally), a Turkish orchestra and the TLV orchestra. It's bold, it's emotional and we hope it resonates deeply wherever it is heard.

Having given Souls several spins, I'll make a few observations. One, vocalist Noa Gruman has an impressive voice with great range and presence. Second, I'm not a huge fan of Ross Jennings as a vocals. I'll just leave it at that. Third this is true progressive metal which melds complexity and intricacy in composition and musicianship with accessibility and intrigue that engages the listener. This is a rare combination that many prog bands attempt to find, but often do not. Therefore, and in light of this, I found that best within My Haven, Long Forgotten Song, Unreachable, and RIP, though that song has some rough vocals.

All said, for some true progressive metal, Scardust and Souls, gives listeners a fine combination complexity, masterful musicianship, intrigue, creativity and, that elusive component of the genre, listener accessibility. 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.

For some true progressive metal, Scardust and Souls, gives listeners a fine combination complexity, masterful musicianship, intrigue, creativity and, that elusive component of the genre, listener accessibility. Recommended.

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