![[Image]](../../Images/synasthasia.gif)
Tracks: Discovery Of The Mask, The Attack, Quest For The Dharacle, The Swamp, The Mines, Yvel, Salvation From The Curse, Gladstones Fall, Scotias Death, In Misery
More Info: www.synasthasis.de
Verdict (& Rating ): Melodic Power Metal ( 65% [alternative metalhead rating 75%])
Synasthasia describe their style of music as 'melodic power metal'. Since my collection isn't exactly awash with 'power metal', it took a little bit of web research to turn up Helloween as being the band that Synasthasia are supposed to sound something like. From the more metallic elements of my own collection, I heard a little Maiden, a little Metallica and a little Stratovarius (are they power metal or neo-classical?).
Given the above, I was rather surprised that "Discovery Of The Mask" made a positive impression, but it did. It is an engaging uptempo romp. When the band attempt to race each other to the end of the track, "The Attack" being one example, I tend to switch off or just smile and hit 'next'. (I do the same thing when listening to Maiden or Stratovarius.)
That 'next' brought me to the slightly more sensibly paced "Quest For The Dharacle". The vocalist has a chance to sing rather than struggling to keep up with music. This track is helped by a melodic and coordinated chorus. In fact, the vocalist is one of the strengths of the band in my opinion. Unlike many others in this genre he is mid-range, rather than the high-pitched wail of his helium-fuelled contemporaries. The following two tracks "The Swamp" and "The Mines", continue is to cast the band in a positive light, especially "The Mines" which is best track on the album.
After all the frantic activity so far, the band take a breather on the Metallica Black-era ballad "Yvel". Whilst it does sound uncomfortably like Lars & Co, it does the job of being ' the ballad' effectively. The band then seem to lose the plot slightly with next couple of fairly boring and ordinary tracks. "Scotias Death" has the band back on track again. The band complete the album with a Metallica meets Maiden instrumental.
Roughly about half of the tracks on the album impressed me. To these ears the band put their best foot forward when they keep the pace to a sensible romp and allow the singer the room to sing! The best example of this is 'The Mines'. Elsewhere, it is more the case of my not liking the style of the music, rather Synasthasia necessarily doing anything wrong. So,at the final count, this gets an 'average' rating. I think the band have done a good job - to create a concept album as their debut with solid sound quality should not be dismissed lightly. Metalheads would no doubt rate this higher and, as I said before, the average rating from me reflects a slight mismatch of their style with my musical tastes rather than anything else.
