Myrath: Karma

Six albums across seventeen years doesn’t mark out Tunisian act Myrath as one of the most prolific bands ever, but those first five outings certainly found them to be one of the most consistent. Blending Middle Eastern musical themes with much more traditionally Western metal ideals found Myrath landing somewhere within the realms of progressive/power metal and also as leaders of what seemed to be a burgeoning Oriental Metal scene (not that I ever understood where that tag came from…). Adding in strings and beats from their homeland to a core sound that brought comparisons to Symphony X and their ilk from some, I must admit that I’ve never quite viewed this outfit as all that ‘progressive’, although it has undoubtedly been a flavour they’ve often sprinkled on top of their hook laden, bombastic, atmospheric brand of metal. With Karma, the journey further away from that progressive sound that began on 2019’s Shehili continues apace, and so much so that at this point I’d have to suggest that it really isn’t part of what’s going on here at all. Instead, Karma is accessible, hook laden and riff heavy, although in a remarkably melodic style.

To me, this is an outlook that suits this band to a tee, Anis Jouini (bass), Malek Ben Arbia (guitars), Zaher Zorgati (vocals), Morgan Berthet (drums) and  Kévin Codfert (keyboards) hitting like a more melodic Kamelot with swirling strings and Middle Eastern rhythms. Now, for some I’d suggest that the band’s sideways move away from their more progressive/technical leanings will be an unwelcome turn of events but the results sound completely natural and almost inevitable. That said, the bright synths, gang vocals and glinting hooks of “Carry On� might just be a step too far for some, with the same possibly being said for “Candles Cry� where the melodies and super smooth (and bloody marvellous) vocals from the ever excellent Zorgati verge on mainstream melodic rock - although there’s no complaint in my book. From the gritty gallop of “To The Stars� via the grandiose and synth/string led “Let It Go� to the pounding mid-paced shimmer of “The Empire�, the standards never drop and neither does the conviction with which it’s all delivered.

As you’ll gather from the above, my praise for Karma is pretty much overflowing, but - and it is quite a big but - for those who were brought here by this band’s earlier, heavier, more progressive and technical edge, I’ve no doubt that the connection levels may not be quite as strong. If enigmatic and individual melodic hard rock with a tougher edge is your thing, then surely we can consider it Karma that you and this album meet as soon as possible.

Track Listing
1. To the Stars
2. Into the Light
3. Candles Cry
4. Let It Go
5. Words Are Failing
6. The Wheel of Time
7. Temple Walls
8. Child of Prophecy
9. The Empire
10. Heroes
11. Carry On

Added: March 8th 2024
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Myrath online
Hits: 666
Language: english

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