Symfonia
"Super-group" is a term the media love to throw around whenever some
well-known musicians band together in a new group.
Here, it's not inaccurate (at least as terms of Euro power metal),
as the two main guys are guitarist Timo Tolkki of
Stratovarius and vocalist André Matos of
Angra,
with the rest of the guys having plied their trade in well-known bands
such as
Sonata Arctica,
Evergrey,
Helloween,
and others.
They guys came together in 2010 and in March 2011 released their
first album,
In Paradisum.
With these pedigrees and a band name of Symfonia, there should be no
doubt as to what's on offer;
it's melodic, symphonic-laced European power metal, with all the trademarks
and cliches on full display.
But it's a case of hit and miss here -- at times the band lives up to the
promise (the lengthy title track, for one, isn't bad at all),
but some of the songs simply sound ordinary,
and even Matos and Tolkki don't always sound inspired, though in Matos'
case it might be an issue with the production (he's not at the forefront
as much as one might expect).
And even in the unoriginal world of power metal, there's no excuse for
songs like "Forevermore", the chorus of which is so familiar and
typical as to almost be laughable.
It just seems that veterans like these should come up with something more
than just another melodic power metal album, even though the market for
such albums is still out there.
In time these guys might broaden their horizons and put out something
truly inspired, but
In Paradisum, competant as it might be for the
style, just isn't it.
As it turns out, the project was put to rest shortly after the album's
release.
Discography
In Paradisum
2011
Edel
|
- Fields of Avalon
- Come by the Hills
- Santiago
- Alayna
- Forevermore
- Pilgrim Road
- In Paradisum
- Rhapsody in Black
- I Walk in Neon
- Don't Let Me Go
|
-
André Matos
-
Timo Tolkki
-
Jari Kainulainen
-
Mikko Harkin
-
Uli Kusch
|
|