Moonlight Haze "Animus"

    I used to review a fair amount of power metal bands for this blog, but as of recent I have just not heard a band that has really grabbed me within the world of power metal. Most of the time when I receive a promo for a new power metal band I cannot make it through the first couple tracks without getting a headache from the gimmicky redundant sounding compositions. In the case of Moonlight Haze I can honestly say that this band really hooked me from the beginning and the overall quality of musicianship on their new album, “Animus,” is extremely impressive. 

    This group from Northern Italy really captures a lot of qualities that I tend to enjoy from iconic power metal and symphonic metal bands such as Helloween, Rhapsody, Blind Guardian, Epica and Nightwish. Also, I have to point out how the band does not get carried away with over the top compositions that sounded painfully over produced. For example, the lead guitar playing is extremely fluid sounding and the solos on this release really hooked me, because the lead guitarist never tries to go overboard with pointless shredding to where you feel like the music is being hijacked by some dude trying to show off. Plus, the vocals on this album are phenomenal and the band’s singer Chiara Tricarico has an amazing vocal range. 

    Out of the album’s eleven tracks, I found myself listening with great interest on each song and I believe that fans of power metal and symphonic metal will really be impressed by the band’s tight sound. The first track on the album, “The Nothing,” is a solid opening piece of music and contains a very calming yet uplifting main driving rhythm. The band hammers out some catchy guitar riffs while injecting epic sounding vocal parts to create a very cinematic sounding environment. The second track, “It’s Insane,” is probably the primary reason why this band peaked my interest after I first listened to the album. The chorus section is truly inspiring and Chiara’s vocal delivery adds such fiery and passionate emotion into the track. Also, the guitar solo during the song is a great example of how a player is able to take you away for a bit by exploring some mesmerizing scales, and is then able skillfully return to the main riff.

    As the album progresses from song to song you start to notice how the band is able to lay down some crushing riffs, yet they are always able to transition so smoothly to these mighty melodic chorus sections. On the song,“Kintsugi,” I was impressed by how the arrangements complimented Chiara’s vocals, especially how the music flowed with this graceful synergy. Songs like, “Animus” and “The Thief and the Moon,” glide through these grandiose sounding musical landscapes featuring a fair amount of inspiring lyrics that I believe listeners can relate to, especially during these difficult times in our world. 

    Very similar to the band Rhapsody, one of my all time favorite power/symphonic metal bands, Moonlight Haze pays great attention to detail on each composition and one can tell that the band takes pride in their craft. The song, “We’ll Be Free,” was another epic sounding song that captures one’s imagination as Chiara completely unleashes a mighty rush of emotion during the chorus section. Plus, the drumming is very tight sounding and establishes a thunderous rhythmic backbone for the guitars to come screaming in like mighty eagles soaring over majestic misty mountains. 

    Moonlight Haze, “Animus,” is a modern power and symphonic metal gem that I really hope people check out once it is released through Scarlett Records on March 18th, 2022. The band is able to write such powerful sounding music, while also not getting carried away with ridiculously sloppy instrumental arrangements that end up turning into a saturated symphonic sounding mess. I believe balance and consistency is what separates Moonlight Haze from a fair amount of other up and coming power metal bands. In the end, Moonlight Haze displays a certain level of confidence which can be heard throughout their music, so if you are fan of this type of music and you don’t listen to this album, then you must be insane. Definitely an album you don't want to miss! 

Check out the video for the song "It's Insane" below : 

Moonlight Haze FB Page:

https://www.facebook.com/Moonlighthazeband/

Moonlight Haze Bandcamp:

https://moonlighthaze.bandcamp.com/

Eric Wagner "In the Lonely Light of Mourning"

 

    Even though he may not have played in a band that sold millions of records and had chart-topping hit singles, Eric Wagner was a truly amazing singer and all around a genuine person. Best known as the lead singer of the iconic doom metal band, Trouble, Eric Wagner sang on such classic doom metal releases as, “Psalm 9,” “The Skull” and “Run to the Light.” After departing from Trouble Eric continued to record music and was involved in countless other projects over the years. 

    Last year when Eric passed away fans like myself were really hit hard by the news, especially since his music spoke to people on a very deep level. When the news came out that the label, Cruz Del Sur, was going to posthumously release Eric’s solo album in March of 2022, fans really appreciated the opportunity to hear what Eric was working on just before his passing. “In The Lonely Light of Mourning,” is honestly one of the most powerful releases I have ever heard in my life, and Eric is able to say goodbye to all his fans with an album that combines years of wisdom coming from a man who did what he enjoyed most until his final days. 

    The origins of this solo album can be traced around 2017 when Eric and Dave Snyder (former Trouble/current Blackfinger drummer) started working together on some ideas that would eventually become, “In the Lonely Light of Mourning.” The album also features a handful of other musicians, most of whom had worked with Eric in the past. I believe what listeners will notice right away about this album is that the musicianship sounds very tight and the compositions are extremely well recorded. From top to bottom, the overall solid sounding production allows the music to flow with a tremendous synergy. 

    Each of eight tracks on this album explores very similar lyrical concepts that Eric explored during his time in Trouble along with his other groups. “Rest In Place” and “Maybe Tomorrow” are two very thought provoking tracks featuring some extremely catchy yet also very haunting sounding riffs. One of my favorites off of the album, “If You Lost Is All,” takes listeners on this gloomy journey with some very melancholy sounding string arrangements to accompany the song’s very somber tone. The song makes you put a lot of concepts about life into perspective, and the lyrics are written with such honest and reflective artistic expression. 

    The album also features some really juggernaut sized doom riffs like on, “Strain Theory,” which opens up the gates and unleashes a flurry of titanic sounding doom. I believe Eric had a great mind for writing music, because he was able to take listeners on this profound emotional joyride with his lyrics, while also capturing listeners’ imaginations with those catchy classic hard rock and heavy metal arrangements. On the album’s final song, “Wish You Well,” I really enjoyed the song’s tempo, which reminded a lot of classic Trouble songs. Plus, Eric offers up a very strong chorus section with the lyrics, “If you are in heaven, or in hell, either way, I wish you well.” The lyrics are not overly complicated, but the words create a vivid and enlightened message of being able to let go and move on from certain feelings. 

    After listening to this album a fair amount of times before I started writing this review, I came to the conclusion that even though Eric is no longer with us, his impact and contributions will never be forgotten. “In the Lonely Light of Mourning,” was written and recorded in such a manner that I believe a lot of rock and metal fans will take notice. Eric along with all the other musicians who worked on this album did an amazing job crafting these songs. Again, Eric Wagner might not have gained the same fame and notoriety within the rock and metal world as some other singers, however his music will always be remembered by those who cherished and respected his musical contributions. 

Check out the song "Maybe Tomorrow" below : 

Places where you can purchase the album :

https://ericwagner.bandcamp.com/

and

http://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/store/