ARTLANTICA — Across The Seven Seas (review)

ARTLANTICA — Across The Seven Seas album cover Album · 2013 · Power Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
J-Man
Although a supergroup of seasoned metal veterans will not always result in a great collaborative effort, it's tough to imagine too many progressive and power metal fanatics not having their interest piqued by Artlantica, a band featuring musicians that have played with acts like Artension, Royal Hunt, and Ark (to name just a few). The band's debut, 2013's Across The Seven Seas, even features the legendary Steve DiGiorgio on bass and Savatage's Chris Caffery guesting on guitar - and, if you can stop drooling about the lineup long enough to listen to the music, you'll also discover that the band has some damn impressive progressive-edged power metal to offer its listeners. Played in the heavy-edged US power metal tradition, Across The Seven Seas' sound is rounded off with some seriously progressive moments (just listen to the instrumental “Return of the Pharoah, Pt. 3”!) and plenty of symphonic flourishes courtesy of keyboard virtuoso Mistheria.

Killer power metal tracks like “2012”, “Demon In My Mind”, and “Heresy” help make up for the rather syrupy “Ode to My Angel” and some of the album's lyrical faults (seriously guys, the 2012 apocalypse conspiracy was a joke long before it didn't happen!), but none of these shortcomings are significant enough to diminish this great debut. Fans of melodic and progressive-edged power metal that still has plenty of aggressive bite will have no trouble enjoying what Artlantica has to offer!
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J-Man wrote:
more than 2 years ago
I would like to hear the next album be in a more progressive vein too; they show a lot of potential in that style here. I don't think "Ode to My Angel" is completely a 'bad song' per se, but the lyrics make it seem a lot worse than it should be. They read almost like a 12 year old's love letter to his crush! :-P

...and thanks for the feedback, Adam! :-)
adg211288 wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Great album indeed, and definitely at it's best when they're at their most progressive, I'd like to hear a more full on progressive power metal release from them. I think if this one had been fully like that it would have got a 4.5 from me. In fact it would have got a 4.5 even as it is if it did not have Ode to My Angel on it. That song really stalled this one for me, as ballads in power metal albums usually do...oh and effective shorter format Jeff, tells me everything I'd need to know about this one if I hadn't heard it already. :)
J-Man wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Thanks, Jonas! I think this is something you'd enjoy :-) I've been experimenting with shorter review formats lately, so positive feedback is definitely encouraging!
UMUR wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Nice review Jeff...I´ll check this one out.

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