I can't tell, but I think this band could possibly be awesome if the recording on this record wasn't complete and utter shit. I can't even begin to explain everything that is wrong with this thing, but for starters, the mix is totally screwed. The vocals are so far out in front you can barely hear anything else as soon as the singing starts, the drums sound flimsy and are louder than the guitars and bass, the bass is hard to hear, the guitars are choppy and have no power, the keyboards serve little purpose and are the second loudest element besides the vocals... god damn. Horrible. Whoever recorded this record should refund the cost to the band/label in full plus a 10% fee for sucking beyond repair. As for the music, this is power metal with a little bit of a progressive edge, and it's kind of generic, but they' got some good riffs, and I think the singer is awesome. He goes overboard with some of the vocal harmonies, and the fact that the vocals are 10 times as loud as everything else can be misleading as to his abilities, but if this fucker had a better recording his vocal performance would be killer. I really love his standard harmonies and the power of his range. Very cool. Visually this looks alright. I like the consistent color scheme and the fonts for the most part, but the band logo doesn't fit that look and the photos integrated into the booklet are a disruption. The lyrics are a concept based around a man who kills himself and then realizes as he dies that life is an illusion and he no longer wants to die... I guess? I'm not sure, the introductory paragraphs that introduce the lyrics aren't all that clear-cut. I don't know... I can't make a totally clear judgment on this record because the recording is inexcusable. I'd be mildly curious to hear the band with a better sound, knowing they'd never blow me away, but... I can't say the manner in which these songs are presented here is really going to do anyone much good.
[Black Lotus]
Running time - 41:27, Tracks: 11
[Notable tracks: I can't wrap my head around the shitty mix enough to make that call]
Black Lotus Records - http://www.black-lotus-recs.com
