ETHEREAL

Portuguese ETHEREAL are introduced as Gothic Metal and as I do not only like this style, but also have had very good experiences with it from Portugal with HEAVENWOOD, I had been really looking forward to "Towers Of Isolation”, the second album of the Setubal based band. But any expectations I had did not prepare me for what would await me…

Why? Well, for one because it is not really Gothic Metal, but rather sports influences from mid-era SAVATAGE and a bit older QUEENSRYCHE, so rather Heavy Metal meets some light Prog and yes, a little Gothic, but definitely not enough to justify a categorization as Gothic Metal. But the sextet is far more than just a regurgitator of influences, for they manage to write very dynamic and despite the long playing times of the songs always very conclusive and gripping compositions, which are crowned by the very good atmosphere and even more so Hugo Soares’ incredible voice.

The song structures are very dynamic and variable, never even hinting at boredom, but keeping up the tension by utilizing many different moods. "The Darkest Room" contains all of this and more, with an extremely inspired vocal performance by Hugo and great chorus. "Rebirth” is another small masterpiece, which sets out slow-paced and over epic guitar melodies gains more and more momentum, intensity and heaviness.

"The Haven Of Hallucinations" clocks in at more than 10 minutes, but does not get boring for even a second. It starts out pretty spacy, but then turns into an epic/atmospheric hammer that you have to have heard, just like the very intense two-part "The Altar Of Disharmonic Anthems". "Transcendence Envenomed" also has incredible tension, with a slight dramatic note and the title track alternates between mid- and slow-paced, once more excelling in its full melodies, strong vocals and the whole structure.

The production also is very powerful, rounding off this great album, which has its definitive star in Hugo Soares, his mid-pitched voice is very expressive and emotional, taking the already strong songs to the next level! Congratulations to Recital Records for unearthing this gemstone and making it available to the Metal world, "Towers Of Isolation" is a huge surprise in the most positive way!