Here's a tasty little leftover from 2015, Mortal Price from UK symphonic/neo-classical metal act Avenford. At times this four piece, comprised of Arpie Gamson (vocals, guitar), Peter Szehoffner (guitar, backing vocals), Tom Longbottom (bass), and Jivodar Dimitrov (drums), will take you back to the mid 1980's when Yngwie Malmsteen and his band Rising Force first hit the scene, delivering a non-stop assault of hard rock & metal permeated with blistering neo-classical guitar shredding, soaring vocals, and majestic keyboards. Avenford take a similar path, though they've also obviously digested plenty of the modern power metal scene (Masterplan, Firewind, Jorn, Primal Fear, Helloween, Gamma Ray, etc), putting forth music that's highly melodic, just heavy enough, and loaded with powerful vocals and ripping guitar work. Tunes such as "Guiding Light" and "Hunters Trial" are quite engaging, uptempo heavy rockers with plenty of hooks, while "Turn the Page" (no, not the Bob Seger classic) shows they can also handle a moody ballad quite nicely. There's even some subtle prog overtones on the title track, "Invasion", "Blade in the Moonlight", and the blazing "Journey to the Land of Emerald", the latter an eye popping instrumental with no shortage of guitar & keyboard exchanges as well as some gorgeous acoustic passages. "A Night to Remember" even delivers super catchy melodic heavy rock, Gamson really putting on a vocal show amid a barrage of screaming guitar solos and driving rhythms.
Overall, this is a talented bunch, and it appears they have a new album on the way soon, which will certainly be something to look out for.
Track Listing
1) Overture
2) Guiding Light
3) Hunters Trial
4) Turn the Page
5) Jewels of Fate
6) Mortal Price
7) Invasion
8) Blade in the Moonlight
9) Journey to the Land of Emerald
10) A Night to Remember
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
