Here's another hot band from Finland, the progressive/power metal ensemble Myon. Ghost in Paradise is a very musical and driving release, filled with rich vocal harmonies, intricate guitar work, powerful rhythms, and sweeping keyboards. Some of the influences you hear right off the bat are Stratovarius, Sonata Artica, modern day Uriah Heep, Symphony X, Styx, Helloween, and Hammerfall. What is interesting about Myon is that they rely more on the vocal harmonies and melodies rather than trying to show how flashy their musical chops are, although make no mistake about it, these guys can play, as they show with the wild keyboard & guitar trade-offs on the anthemic "The Quest".
Singer Sami Huotari has a strong and powerful voice, sounding a little like former Styx member Dennis DeYoung, and his vocals on the heavy "Heart of the Hollywood" or the grinding "Nostradamus" add the perfect amount of melody and over the top histrionics to these epic sounding metal tunes. His high pitched wailings on the speedy power metal of "Follow the Sign" complement the wicked and slashing guitar riffs, while the commercial edge of the symphonic hard rock "Mary Celeste" allows for Huotari to really soar. The band gets progressive on the near six-minute "Ancient Rites", featuring orchestral keyboards, meaty power chords, and bombastic rhythms. This is classy stuff to say the least.
This band has loads of potential, and should appeal to those who like a little more melody and less chops or brutality in their progressive metal. It will be interesting to see where they go from here, and I'll be watching.
Track Listing
1) Death of the Dawn
2) Tournament
3) The Quest
4) In Me
5) Heart of the Hollywood
6) Follow the Sign
7) Nostradamus
8) Mary Celeste
9) Avenue
10) Ancient Rites
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