Clairvoyants - The Shape Of Things To Come

The Shape Of Things To Come couldn't be less aptly titled if the lives of Italian power metallers Clairvoyants depended upon it. The shape of many, many things that have already been rehashed would be closer to the truth as this band hurtle through a collection of songs, that while expertly played and solidly put together, have absolutely no pretentions of breaking the mould. In fact, so generic is the Clairvoyants sound that actually pinpointing which bands they "borrow" from is a task in itself. Armored Saint spring to mind, but then so do Primal Fear, Kamelot, Iron Maiden, Dio, Firewind and, well you get the idea. Don't get me wrong, if you just can't get enough foot on the monitor bass, fist pumping riffage, hammering kick drums and layered, soaring vocals, otherwise known as the metal of power, then you are seriously going to love this album. Luca Princiotta and Marco Demartini are tight and fiery as they trade guitar runs, while vocalist Gabriele Bernasconi undoubtedly possesses a voice capable of blowing your house down. However and it is a big however, don't for one second think that at any point you will hear anything on this album to distinguish it from countless other releases from this, or indeed any of the last four or five years. "Prometheus" rattles along, fret burning, and bass throbbing, while "To Heaven And Back" adds a little Helloween histrionics, via some Accept like stomping and Dio-ish bombast. Both tracks are hefty slicing of flexing metal, but then in fairness so are the other nine tracks on this album, with numerous plays upturning no real stinkers, but crucially no real diamonds in the rough either.

While The Shape Of Things To Come is spinning, there's much to bang thy head to. Once it has come to rest, none of it has stuck in the noggin, due to the fact that everything and I do mean everything has such a well lived in feel. It is like plopping on a really old pair of shoes. Shuffle round the house in them and you'll feel comfortable and relaxed, but there's no way you'd be seen in public with them on, as you know everyone will be pointing and wondering why you haven't slid your tootsies into a pair of loafers that look as wonderful as they feel.

Clairvoyants, or Deja-vu? I'll let you decide....

Track Listing
1. No Need To Surrender
2. I Don't Believe Their Lie
3. Endure And Survive
4. Just The Same Story
5. The Shape Of Thing To Come
6. Prometheus
7. The Only Way Out Is Through
8. Sinner's Tale
9. To Heaven And Back
10. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
11. Horizon Calling

Added: October 22nd 2012
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Clairvoyants online
Hits: 1627
Language: english

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