ANVISION — Astral Phase (review)

ANVISION — Astral Phase album cover Album · 2012 · Progressive Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
progshine
AnVision is a Polish band formed in 2007 in the city of Tarnów. This is actually the band’s first full length album. Before they had released an EP called Eyes Wide Shut (2010).

Astral Phase (2012) is self-produced and it was recorded at the Raven Studio between November 2011 and March 2012 and finally released in August 31st 2012 by the Empire 18 label. The album was mixed and mastered by Marcin Szwajcer and the interesting artwork showing hands growing from the ground belongs to Piotr Szafraniec.

AnVision is formed by Marqus (vocals), Greg (guitars), Art (bass), Larz (drums) and Lukas (synthesizers). They also had the helping hand of Sylwek Malinowski on the percussions. AnVision follows pretty much the Prog Metal path, but with a twist. Their songs are a little bit more melodic than the average Prog Metal.

According to the band, Astral Phase (2012) is a musical journey of an Astronaut. This man travels in time and space, also between life and death and ends up reaching out to our feelings, deep thoughts, hidden dreams and memories. A deep concept. To make things clear and begin with the concept ‘The Astronaut’ was chosen to open the album, and again, not as heavy as we would expect of a Prog Metal band. Marek’s vocals are a bit weird in the beginning, but at the time of ‘S.O.D.’, the second track, you’re used to his singing.

‘Family Ties’ continues in the melodic field but ‘Mental Suicide’ gives Astral Phase (2012) a twist, heavy on the Grzegorz’s guitars and on the Marcin’s drums rhythm pattern. One of the most interesting tracks on the album. It’s interesting to notice the Lukas’ keyboards, kinda shy, in the background, but very important to the band’s sound.

‘Mercitron’ is a continuation of the previous track and besides the melodic beginning it is another track when it comes to the heavy side. The middle of the song has a deep special guitar solo tough. ‘I Can’t Live Without My Love’ is an acoustic ballad packed with acoustic guitars and a melodic guitar solo. The track is too long and it is also the weakest on the album.

The band cleverly chose ‘I Have No Fear’ to close Astral Phase (2012), cause it is one of the strongest tracks on the album with a good introduction and smart ideas. It is also the longest of the album tracks with nearly 9 minutes.

AnVision’s Astral Phase (2012) is not a groundbreaking record, but it is well produced, well recorded, well written and well played by good musicians. On top of that, the band was wise enough to record an album with 50 minutes instead of filling the 80 minutes available, smart.

If you’re up to the melodic side of the Progressive Metal, AnVision is your band!

Originally reviewed at: www.progshine.net
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Hin helga kvöl Atmospheric Sludge Metal
SÓLSTAFIR
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Cycles of Suffering Black Metal
BURIAL OATH
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Suns of Perdition - Chapter IV: To Shadow Zion Black Metal
PANZERFAUST
Buy this album from MMA partners
Facilis Descensus Averno Death Metal
SAEVUS FINIS
Buy this album from MMA partners
Merciless Crossover Thrash
BODY COUNT
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

DAWN OF REVENGE - Sanctuary [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Farewell [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Curtain of Death - [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Vengeance [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - I Need You [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed