You want intensity? They got intensity. Valley's Eve, a quartet from Germany, seldom let up on their propulsive third album, Deception of Pain. Using failed suicide attempts as a theme, the band eschews power metal traditions and gravitates toward the genre's outer edges - both lyrically and musically. Take relentless opener "The Fire Burns," for example, which subtly incorporates an intricate yet off-beat drum pattern courtesy of newcomer Frank Huber that sets the pace for the rest of the record.
From there, Valley's Eve move into atmospheric territory ("Point of No Return"), progressive metal ("Kingdom of Pain") and traditional power metal ("Open the Gates"). The only time the band slows down the pace for what could be considered at least a half-ballad is during "Mirror In Your Eyes," which opens with a quiet keyboard passage before kicking into a moody mid-tempo rocker that recalls recent work by Axel Rudi Pell. The band also takes the album's already-controversial theme - suicide - and makes it even more confrontational with "Creating Gods," a bass-heavy scorcher that's among the album's most memorable tracks.
Greek singer Roberto Dimitri Liapakis (also a member of Mystic Prophecy with Valley's Eve bass and keyboard player Martin Albrecht) has a voice that's neither too high nor too low, neither too operatic nor too evil. He displays his range best on brooding tracks like "The Sun" and "Dark Room." Much like its subject matter, Deception of Pain casts a serious shadow. This is a deep, heavy and powerful album that continues to reveal its ravaged soul after repeated listenings.
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