Jesus H Tapdancin’ Christ, this is some album we have here folks. Drawing on influences as diverse as Helloween, Gammaray, Iron Maiden through to Cacophony and Arch Enemy, “Empires’” is a no compromise shred laden metal-wankery adventure that will excite guitar heads and metal fans alike.
Marshall either has good blackmail material on all singers concerned or he’s just a really nice bloke with an excellent little black address book!
You take a huge chance in letting go of the reins in favour of this artistic approach, but its very clear from the off that all concerned share a collective disciplined and visionary approach all resulting in the same goal - quality metal, with soaring, melodic melodies, with excellent crafted choruses being the main artery running thru this excellent album
‘Of Light and Shadows’ pretty much sets the tone for the whole album, soaring and piercing vocals fill the space, or whats left of it after the technical wizardry of Marshalls playing an composition, Michael Vescera letting rip good and proper, you get the feeling that this is a band effort, after all the vocalists are singing their own written lyrics. This is the difference that makes Reborn In Fire really stand above its competition
Highlights include the title track ‘Reborn In Fire’, ‘Of Light and Shadows’, ‘Total Devastation’ ‘Death machine’ and ‘Beyond Daybreak’. What the Hell, its all good!
'RIF' has a crisp clean and polished sound which Marshall can be very proud of. So not only a very accomplished musician, and has a good ear for his own production (talented bastard!!). Dont waste time listening to me, go out and buy the bloody thing, its one of the best albums you’ll hear this year
Sounds like : Something you should listen to first with a clear head to understand it. Then get wasted and crank it up.
What it is : Heavy Metal by a bunch of some of the best heavy metal musicians around.
Strong Track : Damn. Well, they're ALL great, but ' Prognatus Ut Obscurum ' with Zak Stevens stands out as much as the title does. It means born of the spear. Or born of the dart. Hey, we're not fluent in obscure latin ok.
What we wouldn't change : The lineup. It's solid as a rock. And it rocks. Yes. That's fitting.
Overall : Lots of different feels to this with a common thread of skilled musicians in an epic release that's a must have for metalheads!
Star Rating (9.5-10) :
"With aggressive power metal riffs and tasteful, but showy solos, Marshall proves he’s definitely one of the unsung guitar heroes of today."
"As for his song writing, REBORN IN FIRE has everything a power metal fan could want; its sing-along power metal, but with just enough grit to make it rise above,"
REBORN IN FIRE is definitely recommended listening for all power metal fans.
"Incredible production"
"Reborn in Fire is a shining, melodic power metal album"
"My personal favorites are Prognatus Ut Obscurum - Total Devastation - Beyond Daybreak and Death Machine"
"All I can say about this album is Well made!"
"This album offers a clear and expressive sound that makes a great listen through the computer"
Kicking off with a tune true to heavy metal, Empires Of Eden's "Of Light And Shadow" presents you with an album of majestic proportions.
Empires Of Eden have received praise worldwide for their achievements with Reborn In Fire, and this is all their due.
Like a modern day Judas Priest or Iron Maiden, track after track pumps out heavy metal that is true to its core and has maintained all of the magic thereof, while still keeping just a hint of something more unique, something special!
On “Reborn In Fire” EMPIRES OF EDEN are refusing any genre definition, the label “Progressive” probably fits best,
The vocals are very differentiated and therefore optimally fit to the complex music and totally contribute to set the mood, which ranges from extremely aggressive to dreamy.
Just about when you think that you have heard it all in the Power Metal scene, albums like “Reborn In Fire” can really surprise you.
Empires Of Eden asked 8 singers to take part in this album: Zak Stevens (Savatage, Circle II Circle), Mike Vescera (Loudness, Yngwie Malmsteen), Steve Grimmett (Onlaught, Grim Reaper, Lionsheart,), Carlos Zema (Οutworld), Sean Peck (Cage), and three more who did the vocals on the debut album, as well as a 30 piece orchestra; Stu Marshall, the band’s mastermind, is on the guitars, bass and the production.
Authentic, pure and inspired Power Metal in the vein of Judas Priest and Helloween, very powerful songs, heavy guitars, Malmsteen-like solos in most parts and a thunderous rhythm section overall.
It’s a great album and I think the band’s future will be even better.
Wondering what this all-star collaboration sounds like? Well the structures of the songs are power metal, but as each guest musician lays down it’s own vocal style, the songs follows each vocalist’s style quite well to make it they’re own.
Zak Stevens vocal contributions on “Prognatus ut obscurum ” has him for the first time since the Savatage days dwelling into power metal style and it works quite well, as the group does a nice job of playing towards his vocal strengths. Stevens wrote the lyrics and it sound’s more catchier and heavier then any of the past Circle II Circle material he has previously recorded.
The slowly evil driving buildup in “Reborn In Fire” serves as an outstanding title track as “Chris Ninni” does a tremendous job on vocals. I hope to hear more from this man as his voice has an eerie resemblance to Joe Lynn Turner, can you say underrated?
What takes the cake is the treat to see all these amazing vocalists doing some great vocal work and raising the material and making it more appealing. Let’s not forget Stu Marshall who does a great job handling the production here. For any fans of heavy metal and traditional power metal “Empires” is a must have!
The compositions on this disc consistently oscillate within their chosen stylistic aesthetic, with the greatest diversity introduced by the vocalists. There are highly melodic phrases, others involving layers of backing vocals, and elsewhere, all-out screaming.
Of course I’m tempted to put the album on the workbench and disassemble it into its component parts, swooning over the songs in which I’ve heard Vescera or Stevens, but this would detract from the album as a whole. Suffice it to say that the vocalists bring the core qualities of their individual styles to their tracks, and have executed their work superlatively.
This disc should be a hit with anyone fascinated by melodic metal, and is likely to be enjoyed by fans of genres ranging from typical power metal, through pure heavy metal. It is equally likely to be respected by lovers of neoclassical-style soloing. This is a very solid album, containing some genuine standouts!
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