| Musical Style: Power/Progressive Metal | Produced By: Allos & Bruno Barros |
| Record Label: En Hakkore/Soundmass | Country Of Origin: Brazil |
| Year Released: 2024 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 12 | Rating: 95% |
| Running Time: 58:13 |
Belo Horizonte, Brazil based Allos offers more than you might expect from a power metal band. Granted the group stays true to a melodic power metal basis fans of Narnia, Theocracy and Within Silence will be able to identify, but it also furnishes enough symphonic elements to entice those into compatriots Perpetual Legacy and the progressive facets to attract the Affector and Dream Theater crowd. Yet, Allos proves capable of stretching in terms of heaviness and approaching thrash like territory not to mention contrasting for lighter and more commercial AOR-like moments. A darker aspect further realized in swarthy Gothic overtures and even the occasional trudging doom based resonance.
Hence, musical direction to the groups En Hakkore/Soundmass December of 2024 sophomore effort Strong Delusion. Album benefits from the continuity of carrying over the same lineup from the Allos independent 2012 debut full length Spiritual Battle beginning with high end and soaring classic tenor vocalist Celso Alves, whom favorably compares to Christian Palin (Essence Of Sorrow), Thomas Vikstrom (Mehida), Rob Rock (Impellitteri) and Lance King (Shining Star). It also encompasses guitarist Junior Oliveira and his continued power metal acumen in the form of technical riffs and melodic harmonies and neo-classical soloing penchant. Likewise, Wallace Ryan maintains with his intricate double bass propensity and Edley Winderson an at times jazzy and others classically influenced bass presence.
Strong Delusion builds upon the consistency inherent to Spiritual Battle - ‘(presenting) with no skip buttons or filler tracks’ (quoting the 80% Angelic Warlord review) - and takes things to the next level musically with stronger songwriting found in more engaging melodies and harmonies alongside added technical intricacy and sophistication overall. It begins with two and half minute opening piece “The Pilgrims Progress”, which begins to pouring rain and a disconsolate voice inquiring ‘what shall I do to save my soul’ ensued by a ballad like joining of choir vocals, piano and serene vocals.
“Follow Me” ensues as a bounding power metal cut that with its explosive drumming, romping climate and strident guitar harmonies reminds of Essence Of Sorrow track “Mind Control” (off the groups 2007 debut Reflections Of The Obscure). Setting it further apart and lending the unique Allos touch are symphonic overtures in the form of angelic choirs and classical keyboards. Further value manifests in guest lead vocalist Christian Liljegren (Narnia), whom joins his soulful middle register form with that classic tenor of Alves. Lyric snippet:
I’m alive! Only by His sacrifice
I’m not alone! I choose my own destiny
Eternal life! Follow me, if you believe
Jesus Christ! The Way, the Truth and the Life!
I’m not alone! I walk with You everyday
There’s only one righteous and true God
Don’t look back
Find your purpose in Christ and live forever
“All Your Days” presents in the form of a semi ballad. It glides its extent drifting between moments untroubled and serene as viola and piano drift over regal bass and others in which unsettled rhythm guitar jolts in as temper increased to shore up a melody of a surprisingly commercial form. The polished feel brings to mind Long Live The King era Narnia.
“Tele Visions Of Reality” follows with some of those thrash subtleties, hard charging from the get go to ‘chugga-chugga’chugga’ riffs underpinned by power metal style double kick drum but interweaving the groups signature symphonic elements found in intermittent grandiose choir vocals. Despite the aggressive nucleus - Oliveira takes opportune to shine with his combustion like soloing - song fails to cross a repetitious threshold realized in the groups inborn sense of melody. Lyric snippet:
We’re born slaves, and we become imprisoned even more
We watch the edited reality before our eyes
Implanted in our minds, and through it we interpret the world
Like a hypnotizing class they standardize thoughts, confining us in Plato’s cave
In this inversion we are controlled at distance
Like our educator we also become blind and deaf to truth
What are your moral values?
What are your behavior models?
“Suffering And Evil” tempers pace with a darker and moody borderline Gothic feel. A power metal edge prevails nonetheless, guitar walls remain pervasive as ever, but also an easygoing resonance (noting Winderson’s jazzy bass) to the point Finland’s Mehida comes to mind. Allos’ instrumental prowess also shines, realized in an extensive mid-point run home to piano, atmospheric overtures and flowing guitar leads.
Allos displays its progressive side on the seven minute “Inferno”. Song breaks down into two parts. First is a convoluted labyrinth (in a creative sense) of time signatures ranging from classical instrumentation and choral vocals to guarded bass driven passages to others heightened in sinewy fashion as guitar takes hold to classically influenced instrumental passages. Second makes an about face to a reserved atmospheric direction as ethereal vocal melodies and imposing keyboards carry the final two minutes. Lyric snippet:
The God who became man was humbled and tortured to death to prevent
The doom of His creatures
Did He fail to stop our final downfall?
And how can hell still exist, despite so much mercy?
Death is final, there’s no second chance
If endless opportunities were likely to help
Another chance would be given
The end must come one day
And the omniscience of God knows when that final day should be
The serene vestiges carry over to “Letter From Heaven”, a lustrous piano and orchestration driven (borderline Gothic to doom tinged) ballad that complements Alves' crystalline vocal qualities. Authoritative guitar fades in to adorn the closing minute and half.
Album returns to power metal territory with “InHuman Mind”. Song kicks up an expeditious storm - bordering on speed metal - to manifold double bass and accenting keyboards to extent Venom era Impellitteri comes to mind. Yet, a calmer sense appears as impetus slows to a standstill halfway in to a ballad like piano-laced passage only for the whirlwind storm to return in the form of molten lead guitar. Lyric snippet:
Man made himself god, knowing good and evil
But pride had falsified the truth that creature will never be like his Creator
Order was broken, chaos established
Cause man wanted to appear alongside God and not beneath Him
Perpetual progress, continuous evolution
Wind of change wherever it goes
Spreads that everything is relative
Supported by which absolute does man say that everything is relative
Albums six minute title track mirrors the progressive. First minute slowly ambles to cinematic keyboards ahead of song launching into epic metal territory rest of the way, lifting with its enterprising nexus speaking of Theocracy (separating is one of albums catchiest refrains) and harshly registered but not quite extreme backend vocals. Credit group for switching gears to a fusion filled instrumental run home to jazzy bass.
“System Collapse” represents symphonic power metal manifest. Song marches its span to enterprising momentum to a distinguished melding of choir vocals and keyboards, interweaving between keyed up aspects highlighting heroic guitars and galloping low-end and others that temper to leisurely bass and a soothing vocal presence. Neo-classical guitar adorns things instrumentally. Lyric snippet:
Without the mark, there is no existence or identity
Your mind will be connected to a global net
It will set the means to live
I don’t want my destiny defined by a mark
I receive ‘The Life’ and my right to liberty
There will be no individual, it will command your decisions and actions remotely
This is not a symbolic choice,
Classical elements carry over to “Millennium Kingdom”. A trade off between baritone medieval chanting and guest vocalist Rob Rock (Impellitteri) gets things going, with Rock forming a classic tenor duet with Alves moving forward but not without the medieval chanting making intermittent appearance. All the while explosive double bass, harpsichord and neo-classic guitar adds to the imposing scene.
“For The Centuries” closes the album in the form of a lush ballad integral to woodwinds, orchestration and piano. Vocally, Alves’ performance hints of Matthew Ward (Second Chapter of Acts). Lyric snippet:
The Lord set wisdom in the deep
And gave the mind the understanding
Gave order to the morning and showed the dawn it’s true place
Delimited the pride of the waves
To the God High
Honor and glory!
For centuries to come!
Strong Delusion equates to a choice symphonic power and progressive metal album. If a fan of either genre or combination therein (including other hard music genres revealed in the bands sound), you will not be disappointed. When further factoring mirror like production along with top-notch band performance and guest vocalists, Strong Delusion more than deserves as a top five album of the year contender. There is not a weakness here in light of finely done cover art and detailed packaging. Overall, 2024 proved a strong year for the Brazilian metal scene in light of cohorts Perpetual Legacy and its equally good 2-CD release Teodrama.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “The Pilgrims Progress” (2:34), “Follow Me” (4:13), “All Your Days” (4:50), “Tele Visions Of Reality” (4:55), “Suffering And Evil” (5:29), “Inferno” (6:44), “Letter From Heaven” (4:44), “InHuman Mind” (4:45), “Strong Delusion” (5:45), “System Collapse” (4:42), Millennium Kingdom” (5:37), “For The Centuries” (3:56)
Musicians
Celso Alves - Vocals
Junior Oliveira - Guitars
Edley Winderson - Bass
Wallace Ryan - Drums
