New Jersey’s Metal Life Crisis released its second album, Theatre of Fire, in late 2023, and it finally found its way to the Sea. What we have here is chugging, plodding progressive metal that seems stuck in a rut. The last three songs on this 11-track, 55-minute album (“Mirror Mirror,” “Darkening Heart” and “Noise In My Head”) reveal the kind of diversity and melodic creativity that might have helped the rest of the album generate more heat. Notable for guest drumming from King Diamond’s Matt Thompson, Theatre of Fire nevertheless lacks the hooks, emotional heft and band dynamics it needs to help Metal Life Crisis rise from the middle of the prog-metal morass. Really cool cover, though.
Track Listing:
1. When It Returns
2. Question I Answered Who
3. Balentree Moor
4. Theatre of Fire
5. The Beast
6. The Elite Obsolete
7. Jie Ateina Nuzudyti (They Come for the Kill)
8. Your Light
9. Mirror Mirror
10. Darkening Heart
11. Noise in My Head
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