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Teramaze: Her Halo
The Australian Prog Metal band, Teramaze, have returned with their 5th album, Her Halo (Music Theories Recordings/Mascot Label Group). This release features the debut of new singer, Nathan Peachey, and the bands new 'song first' direction.
Band leader and master guitarist, Dean Wells, has shifted the songwriting in the band to be much more conscious of the songs rather than just the musicianship prowess, citing that their music is all about the song as a whole and if the song needs a slow guitar solo with only three notes, then that's what the song shall have. This outlook has served the band well on Her Halo, allowing the band to expand their listener horizons and appeal to musicians and anyone else that likes good melodic, heavy, riff driven Prog Metal.
The title track, "Her Halo" is a well crafted and thoughtful tune that features a tranquil acoustic backed verse that then hits with some fierce melodic noodling from Wells as they lead you into the uber catchy chorus. There is also a new video for the song "Her Halo". Another standout offering is their opening magnum opus, the 12 minute "An Ordinary Dream", that quite literally takes you along for a slow and building ride through the subconscious that touches all the bases of a song and back again. Not to be out done, Dean Wells and company also drop the instrumental, "Trapeze" which allows this guitar demon to melodically rip up his fret board and not just show off for wankery sake. Wells has a killer guitar tone and tasty chops to boot, if you like players in the John Petrucci vein but not as busy you will love Dean Wells.
Her Halo shows a more mature Teramaze and the 8 tracks contained here accurately convey this new maturity quite well. Songs like the almost ballad like "Broken" shows a new depth and complexity to their songwriting that wasn't there before. Her Halo is an excellent follow up to 2014's terrific Esoteric Symbolism and is natural progression for a band like Teramaze that is looking to continue to grow at their craft. Heavy, progressive and thoughtful along with stellar musicianship makes for a record that is begging to be checked out.
See more about this release on our recent YouTube show!
Track Listing
1. An Ordinary Dream (Enla Momento)
2. To Love, a Tyrant
3. Her Halo
4. Out of Subconscious
5. For the Innocent
6. Trapeze
7. Broken
8. Delusions of Grandeur
Added: November 13th 2015
Reviewer: Butch Jones
Score:  
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 4770
Language: english
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Teramaze: Her Halo
Posted by Scott Jessup, SoT Staff Writer on 2015-11-13 07:39:21
My Score:
Australian progressive metal group Teramaze has a sensational new release titled Her Halo. It really is of no surprise though as Teramaze's previous album Esoteric Symbolism was such an outstanding recording. I was totally captivated from the get go, thinking now here is a band that is onto something special. Fans of Circus Maximus, Seventh Wonder, Kamelot, Dream Theater and the like will relish Her Halo, I do actually find myself enjoying this album more so than I have any new Dream Theater release in some time.
Since their inception Teramaze has gone through changes in line-up and style wise leaving quite a varied back catalogue and what is their fifth album Her Halo presents further change. Her Halo is the work of sole original member guitarist/backing vocalist Dean Wells, lead vocalist Nathan Peachey, bass player Luis Eguren and drummer Dean Kennedy. Nathan Peachey actually replaces former vocalist Bret Rerekura, Nathan brings his appealing melodic style which truly complements that wonderful music. Keyboard fans don't despair as they play a sizeable role on this album and are played by Dave Holley and Dean Wells.
Teramaze aren't ones to allow that technical side to run away as some tend to, their performances are measured as required allowing the songs to flow smoothly. Her Halo was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (Kamelot, Primal Fear, Evergrey) and actually the first thing that caught my attention was the outstanding sound quality of this album.
Her Halo is a concept album involving a travelling circus and a female trapeze artist, the cover art depicts her "fall from grace" and the band incorporates those appropriate sound effects setting the scene as their tale unravels. Her Halo kicks off with a track of substantial duration "An Ordinary Dream (Enla Momento)" where the musical changes incorporating their progressive metal work so well, and when that wonderful chorus cuts in those vocal harmonies just have you spellbound. And believe me it doesn't stop there as the rest of the album is teeming with Teramaze's musical magnetism. Whether it be the dynamic "To Love, A Tyrant" and addictive "Her Halo", "'Out Of Subconscious' and "For The Innocent" which are such a catchy and vibrant songs, or the intricate and melodic music that awaits on the excellent instrumental "Trapeze". The moving "Broken" that leads to their adventurous closer "Delusions Of Grandeur" you really can't go wrong as every track is a winner.
With fine performances all round, gripping tunes and that excellent production don't let Her Halo pass you.
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