No sophomore slump for Pennsylvania's Pharaoh – a progressive power-metal band that, following its average 2003 debut, After the Fire, really needed to define itself. Mission accomplished with The Longest Night.
Let's begin with the first track, "Sunrise." Vocalist Tim Aymar (who was in Control Denied, the late Chuck Schulidner's Death offshoot) sings with a gritty power that's at once both jolting and awesome – think of a more disciplined Jon Oliva -- and he puts the bite into a monstrous and surprisingly melodic opening statement that's punctuated by a solo from original Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland. From there, Pharaoh proceeds to improve on every facet of After the Fire. Better songwriting, stronger and more diverse arrangements and more discernible (and discerning) hooks make songs like "In the Violet Fire," "Endlessly" and the title track resonate deeper and longer than anything on Pharaoh's debut but without sacrificing band members' links to thrash and speed metal.
With The Longest Night, Italy's Cruz Del Sur Music might just have released the label's strongest album yet.
Track Listing:
1) Sunrise
2) I Am the Hammer
3) In the Violet Fire
4) By the Night Sky
5) Endlessly
6) The Longest Night
7) Fighting
8) Like A Ghost
9) Up the Gates
10 Never Run
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