GATE OF LIONS

Reviewed by Stamatis

Forgotten Tales - The Promise

Forgotten Tales is a new band coming from Canada and this is their debut album. I was told they were like Rhapsody and in some way they actually do. Symphonic, epic power/speed in the veins of the Italian giants with the difference that they have female vocals. Of course the story is the too common one about tales and rest several myths and the cover art is quite representative enough. Keyboards are being used just in the models of Rhapsody, epic and medieval. Rhythm guitars I think that could get a bit more aggressive and heavy sounding, because female vocals along with the keys compose a softer than the appropriate sound. Apart from this, the guys deliver hard worked song substructures characterized by maturity and refreshing ideas. Nice riffs and very good solos with reports from euro-metal and bands like Heavenly and Freedom Call (all this means old Helloween). The choruses are well-performed, with tension and passion, yet and catchy most times by Sonia. They also pay attention to the background details, so the keys, drums and backing vocals seem really careful.

The production is crystal clear. Best moments are the songs "Word Of Truth", "Cold Heart", "Far Away", "Gates Beyond Reality", "Sanctuary", "Deadly Grasp" and "The Promise", while the rest stand high in the quality's rating, but do not have that something which could make them differ from the mass (but you will like them all if you are a fanatic of this concrete style). Their attempt is surely remarkable and worthy purchasing it, but only for the power metal fans who also like female vocals. The present release is self-financed one, so considering this fact, everything is great. The whole situation reminds me of the 1st Rhapsody album "Legendary Tales", which was their debut CD and the one that make them big name in the worldwide scene. Guessing their future, I predict that "The Promise" will achieve satisfactory correspondence from the fans and the media, and they might be able to tour with a famous symphonic/power/speed European band. I finally believe that if they have a good label backing them, they could get even better and we should expect more of them.

Note : 5.75/7