| Musical Style: Heavy Metal | Produced By: |
| Record Label: En Hakkore Records | Country Of Origin: Varies |
| Year Released: 2023 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 12 | Rating: No Quote |
| Running Time: |
Narnia tribute album Show All The World: A Latin American Tribute To Narnia has a lot to be proud of. Released in September of 2023 on En Hakkore Records, Show All The World was born as a project to celebrate Narnia’s 25th anniversary in 2021 and to honor the close relationship the group has maintained with its Latin American fans. Narnia has performed throughout the region extensively in this regard, having toured South America twice, played several times in Mexico and recently toured with Rob Rock in which it visited Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Columbia and Guatemala.
Encompassing the Show All The World roster are well known Latin American stalwarts Dynasty Of Metal, Allos, Sunroad and Boanerges in addition to those that while not as well known are no less able in Delohim, Angura, Rota De Escape, Ironland, Proyecto Aslan and Azorraque & Friends. Whereas many said acts stay true to the at times melodic power metal and others neo-classical melodic metal of which we associate with Narnia, others branch out and take a unique approach to Narnia classics, with styles diverse as traditional metal, Gothic metal and even thrash/extreme metal. Either way, each band proves respectful to the individual characteristics of the song covered while enhancing without detracting from the original.
Show All The World is bookended with opening and closing instrumentals, with former a two minute (mostly) acoustic cover of “Desert Land” by Renatinho Stauros and latter a feedback driven version to “Hymn To The North” from “Yeanpierre Caipo”.
First full-length vocal piece attributes to Delohim, whom perfectly executes “Sail Around The World (off sixth Narnia album Course Of A Generation) in staying true to its enlivening focus, crunch driven guitars and draw you in at once proclivity. Performance is top notch, as the flashy lead soloing is certain to turn the head of Narnia guitarist Carl Johan Grimmark, while lead vocalist brings a raspy, expansive range not that far removes from Narnia front man (at the time) German Pascual.
Dynasty Of Metal’s “Long Live The King” represents another choice selection, referencing how the title track to the sophomore Narnia album appeared on the veteran Brazilian classic metal acts May of 2023 Christian metal covers album Back To The Past. Front man Nahor Andrade might bring more of a gravely, lower register edge than long term classic tenor Narnia front man Christian Liljegren but otherwise complements what remains a stately and dignified melodic metal cut.
My favorite Show All The World rendition is “The Witch And The Lion”, with Allos lending a neo-classical metal touch to one of the finer numbers off fourth Narnia album Desert Land. Setting it apart from the original are the opening classical keyboards, baroque vocal melodies and classical feel to the soloing (again, I can see Grimmark being impressed). Allowing further separation is the high-end focus to lead vocals.
“Shelter Through The Pain”, second Long Live The King selection, finds Sunroad imbuing its signature hard rock nuances: vocals reflect a gritty, mid-ranged quality and guitars (both rhythm and lead) a bluesy edge. Either way, Sunroad remains respectful to the original from also making generous use of keyboards and by descending into occasional calmer passages.
Third Long Live The King number “Living Water” attributes to Angura. Group pumps the song up into near speed metal territory, elevating further the tempestuous momentum with high-energy falsettos, keyed up low end and forward thinking guitar riffs. Vocals complement equally with a smooth but mid-ranged approach.
Rota De Escape handles lone cover from Narnia debut The Awakening, “Break The Chains”. With lower register vocals leading the way, song executes an up-tempo demeanor its span with heavy drums (improving upon the programmed drums to the original) and well executed neo-classical soloing. At this point, it deserves note the high-level performance of the various guitarists appearing on Show All The World, whom put in a strong showing in light of the challenging task covering material to featuring one of the worlds leading guitar players.
With exception of closing instrumental “Hymn To The North”, “This Is My Life” is lone selection off one of Narnia’s top albums (in my opinion) Enter The Gate. With so many great songs in which to choose, I am surprised albums title track, “People Of The Blood Red Cross”, “The Man From Nazareth” and the “Show All The World” eponymous title track were excluded. That being said Ironland puts in a creditable performance in covering a fine song in its own right, taking a stripped down classic metal approach (with periodic heavyset thrash excursions) to see strong classic tenor vocals and elevated hooks prevail.
“The Countdown Has Begun” separates as albums lengthiest at seven minutes in representing one of two The Great Fall (fifth Narnia album) vocal tracks. Proyecto Aslan does a creditable job imbuing the song with an epic metal slant (sort of like Theocracy) but also lending a progressive element (noting the Narnia version is two minutes shorter). Vocals takes an even mid-ranged headlining, aligning with the fast paced environs decorated with backend tower bells and jazzy bass. My favorite part is the extended mid-point classically influenced instrumental break decorated with harpsichord.
Course Of A Generation cover “When The Stars Are Falling” stands apart as one of albums outside the box moments, a particular I say in a positive sense in light of how Boanerges provides an almost Gothic sensibility to the song. Yes, maintained is a similar guitar crunch and forthright hooks but deviation is found in lower register female vocals and periodic eerie keyboards allowing an ominous chill.
“Back From Hell”, second of The Great Fall vocal cuts, ranks among Narnia’s heaviest. Azorraque & Friends a ton of creditability in this capacity with its thrash influenced almost extreme take, elevating tempo to near speed metal levels while imbuing pulverizing guitar assaults, double kick drum and aggressive, lower register vocals. Interestingly, for the songs quieter moments, soprano female vocals and classic tenor male vocals take over.
Show All The World: A Latin American Tribute To Narnia equates to a high quality covers album. I enjoy the wide array of bands and differing hard music styles, albeit majority stay within the trademark Narnia melodic metal format. Either way and regardless of genre, each band imbues an element of creditability and respect for the original version to each song covered. With this in mind, there is a great deal of talent represented in that I would love to hear full length efforts from many of the lesser known (and as already noted) but no less able acts.
Constructive commentary is limited to how I wish I cover had been done of the albums “Show All The World” namesake. Along similar lines, many of my favorite Narnia songs ended up overlooked, including those already mentioned off Enter The Gate along with “Star Over Bethlehem” (Long Live The King) and “Inner Sanctum” (Desert Land). My track listing nitpicking aside, fans of Narnia or any of the bands represented would do themselves a favor by obtaining Show All The World while it is available.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing:
1. RENATINHO STAUROS - “Desert Land” (from The Great Fall album) - (1:47)
2. DELOHIM (BRA) - “Sail Around The World” (from Course Of A Generation album) - (3:43)
3. DYNASTY OF METAL (BRA) - “Long Live The King” (from Long Live The King album) - (5:19)
4. ALLOS (BRA) - “The Witch And The Lion” (from Desert Land album) - (4:42)
5. SUNROAD (BRA) - “Shelter Through The Pain” (from Long Live The King album) - (4:59)
6. ANGURA (PRI, MEX, CHI) - “Living Water” (from Long Live The King album) - (4:15)
7. ROTA DE ESCAPE (BRA) - “Break The Chains” (from The Awakening album) - (5:00)
8. IRONLAND (MEX) - “This Is My Life” (from Enter The Gate album) - (4:22)
9. PROYECTO ASLAN (ARG,BRA) - “The Countdown Has Begun” (from The Great Fall album) - (6:47)
10. BOANERGES (ARG) - “When The Stars Are Falling” (from Course Of A Generation album) - (4:30)
11. AZORRAQUE & FRIENDS (BRA) - “Back From Hell” (from The Great Fall album) - (6:30)
12. YEANPIERRE CAIPO (PER) - “Hymn To The North” (from Enter The Gate album) - (2:53)
