Official Site
A neo-classical power-prog band from Russia,
singing in English, debuted in 1998. Their most successful album,
"Imago," was released in both English (2002) and Russian (2003)
languages. Since then the band released two more studio albums and a
double live "Give Them Back The Sky" (2006). Currently consists of
Oleg Zhilyakov (vocals), Alexander Timonin (bass), Oleg "Mission"
Mishin (guitars, flute), Igor "Jeff" Polyakov (guitars), Alexey
Barzilovich (drums, percussion), and Julia "Red" Egorova (keys). An
interesting note is that for the photoshoots the band dresses up in
tuxedos and classical orchestra attires.
IMAGO (English version, 2002)
RATING: ****
BEST SONGS: title track, "Heart Of The World," "Crusader"
An English version of this record. Two clear
reference points to describe this band are Stratovarius and
Sonata Arctica. But that's not to say that
this is a clone: it is not. The voice of Oleg Zhilyakov is high, but
he rarely pitches it into the stratosphere the way Kotipelto and
Kakko do, singing in a more controlled fashion but with a
commendable conviction (the chorus to "Crusader" is a definite
standout). The music is not overly fast, mostly in the
upper-mid-tempo region. The songs are well crafted and perfectly
executed. The riffs are solid, the melodies are pleasant, the
production is excellent, and the lyrics are decent, hailing back to
the Russian tradition of giving a thought to the lyrics-writing. The
keys are very prominent, again, recalling Sonata Arctica, as well as
Royal Hunt. The later is especially seen in
the instrumental "Tarantula." While not quite ground-breaking or
unique, this band is definitely most pleasant to listen to. Highly
recommended for all fans of neoclassical metal that are disappointed
with the latest releases from the Finnish masters of the
genre.
VERNEE IM NEBO... (GIVE THEM BACK THE SKIES, LIVE 2006)
RATING: ****1/2
BEST SONGS: “Hold Fast,” “Rassvetny Zver (The Sunrise Beast),” “Voin Sveta (Warrior Of Light)”
An awesome double live album, mostly containing material from their latest studio albums: Russian-version of Imago(2003) and Wings (2005), both of which are performed, practically, in their entirety (except for instrumentals). The material is very strong: fast and melodic power metal, with keys, flutes, high-pitched vocals, and some of the most grandiose choruses ever. The band is very tight and melodies are juicy enough to carry the listener for an hour and a half. The vocals of Zhiliakov are decent, but he sounds a bit rough at times and his spoken interludes between songs are rather cheesy. All Imago songs are performed very well: I especially dig “Dalshe Tishina” (“Silence Flows” in the English version… the exact translation of the Russian title would be “Silence Follows”; I wonder if they made a mistake), “Sunrise Beast,” “Imago,” and “Warrior Of Light.” “Sunrise Beast,” which I didn’t even notice on Imago, leapfrogged over many other tracks in my mind, once I’ve actually heard it sung in Russian, with lyrics about Islam and “holy war.” “Silence Flows” was made a highlight by the spirited crowd participation. Anthemic “Warrior Of Light” (titled “Crusader” on Imago) is a clear crowd favorite. My favorite track is, by far, “Hold Fast” off of Wings: its vocal melodies, combined with the flute, are as good as they get. For some reason it makes me think of “The Trooper,” although it’s a very different song. A superb work, start to finish. Considering that both Stratovarius and Sonata Arctica have been a letdown lately, this is almost a must. Oh yeah, and the bonus track is one of the biggest hits in Russian cultural history, “The Hare Song,” metallized and very entertaining.
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