Embedded Files
THE 7TH GUILD “Triumviro”
THE 7TH GUILD “Triumviro”
By Dr. Abner Mality
It’s the THREE TREMORS...Italian style! A mix of three great Italian power metal singers fronting a symphonic metal band of the most bombastic kind. The trio of tenors is Tomi Fooler of SKELETOON, Giacomo Voli of RHAPSODY OF FIRE and former VISION DIVINE frontman Ivan Giannini. That’s a pretty top notch collection of lungpower.
But what of the music? Well, it’s nothing surprising, especially being on Scarlet Records which is known for operatic power metal, but there is something about how this all comes together that is a notch above many similar acts. The album gets off to a great start with two blazing and soaring power metal numbers, “Holy Land” and “The 7th Guild”. They are chock full of blast beats, screaming guitar runs and humongous vocal melodies. It is very typical Euro power metal, but done so well that you can’t ignore the quality. I actually prefer 7TH GUILD’s approach to that of their labelmates, the way overrated FELLOWSHIP. It’s not as sweet and sugary, even though the sound here is very polished and shiny.
The vocals and playing are tremendous throughout, but I felt the middle of the album got a little flabby, with “In Nomine Patris” being a bit too overwrought and the ballad “Time” a bit on the sappy side. One influence I can hear throughout the album is BLIND GUARDIAN, especially in the vocal melodies, but 7th GUILD is not quite up to the almost unbeatable standard of the Germans.
The end of the album recovers well, with “The Metal Charade” shredding like hell with speed and great singing. I have to admit, I’m not sure who sings what here, but since all of the lead vocalists kill, that’s not really important. The rest of the lineup is also impressive, with DGM guitar wizard Simone Mularoni and GAMMA RAY drummer Michael Ehre playing a big part in the band’s success.
Corny? Maybe so, but if you’re in the mood for pompous power metal, THE 7TH GUILD is gonna scratch that itch…
Report abuse