Spellblast
originally formed in 1999, but kept the band from the public eye until they
released their demo “Ray of Time” in 2004. “Horns Of Silence”
is the band’s second release, but first studio album, and it’s
one hell of a way to start their studio career. They are comparable to Blind
Guardian, Rhapsody, Elvenking, and Finntroll. From the similarities with
those bands you should be able to figure out that Spellblast are mainly
power metal with dark folk accents. On thing is for sure, this album grows
on you. I found it more appealing, the more I listened. I like the layers
of music they weave together; they keep it vibrant and quite catchy. Among
the layers they have galloping riffs, decent solos, blasting and rhythmic
drums, singing power metal vocals (parts of the vocals remind me of Hansi
Kursh), some death growls, and the key and synths add a lot of the music
because of their variation. I believe most folk traits can be traced to
the keys, though at times there appears to be a violinist too. A quantity
of the parts are exceptional others are adequate. The lyrics are about mythical
creatures, folklore, fantasy worlds and legend, great topics for a band
of this type. There are guest vocals from Damnagoras of Elvenking fame on
a few tracks, as well. The nine tunes and forty-seven minutes on “Horns
Of Silence” were recorded at New Sin Studio (Labyrinth, Domine, White
Skull, Elvenking). Overall it has a good production quality, nothing lacking
in that department. Not bad at all for a first full-length, but with a few
more quality elements, this could have been exceptional.
Rating: 85
Reviewed By: Jeffrey D. Adkins |
