Throne Of Thorns is a "new" Belgian metal band founded by guitar picker and songwriter Thomas Jethro Verleye and seeing the fact that this band blends melodic heavy metal and progressive metal in the veins of bands like Blind Guardian, Gamma Ray, Avantasia, Helloween and Stratovarius, I wonder if this release is "suitable" for this medium... This debut album features eight songs, of which two - being Rise and Throne Of Thorns - are instrumental ones and after the opening Rise the first "real" song Storm Maker hits you in the "balls" right away, as it is a really heavy track, with musical references to sheer power metal and heavy metal indeed. Converging Parallel Worlds is basically a guitar riff driven album that really invite the listeners to headbang along to and I kind of did during most of the album indeed. Almost epic tracks like Fire And Ice and the title song are splendid examples of how the riffs of Verleye "dominate" and make this album; especially Fire And Ice has some impressive neck breaking intense guitar riffs and hooks. Singer/shouter Josey Hendrix, also singer of Ostrogoth, does a fantastic job, especially during the first single of this album called Underworld, being a power metal song for 100%. Atomic Retribution is also an example of a more melodic power metal track while Black Diamond is again packed with inexorable guitar riffs. Converging Parallel Worlds is a great album, almost a brilliant mix of power metal and heavy metal, but also featuring some progressive metal influences, making this debut a musical rollercoaster that will blow your mind for sure; but it is not an album for the lovers of prog rock or AOR.... Check it out, as I really loved this album, especially when I turned up the volume (hello neighbours...). Listening tip: Storm Maker. **** Martien Koolen (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
