Released by: Inner Wound Recordings
Release date: 24 November 2017
Genre: Power Metal, Progressive
Links: pyramaze.com , facebook
Line-up:
Lance King – Vocals
Michael Kammeyer – Guitars
Jonah Weingarten – Keyboards
Niels Kvist – Bass
Morten G Sorensen – Drums
Track Listing:
- Sleepy Hollow
- Forsaken Kingdom
- Melancholy Beast
- The Journey
- Until We Fade Away
- Legend
- Mighty Abyss
- The Nature Of Triumph
- Power Of Imagination
- The Wizard (Bonus Track)
Pyramaze is a band that doesn’t have the same name recognition of other bands of the genre but is very deserving of it. Formed in 2001, the band has created an inspiring catalog of excellent Power Metal with major Prog elements, yet have etched out their own sound from very early on in their career. Earlier this year they released their latest Contingent and received great praise for it. Nightmare and Inner Wound Records are giving the second bit of Pyramaze joy for 2017 with a reissue of their debut albumMelancholy Beast.
Out of print for some time now, this album remains such an incredible masterpiece. Featuring longtime members Jonah Weingarten on keyboards and Morten G. Sorenson on drums, alongside band creator Michael Kammeyer on guitar, Niels Kvist on bass, and original singer Lance King. I was already familiar with Lance when he was in Balance of Power, so I realized that vocally this album was going to be amazing. Little did I know that songs like “Legend,” “Sleepy Hollow,” and “The Journey” would turn this unheard of band into a lifelong favorite of mine. With an excellent collection of songs that sound just as fresh today as they did sixteen years ago, they truly set the bar high for what was to follow. And though the band has gone through a few line-up changes since this release, they’re still carrying on the tradition laid down by this first album of top-notch music. This reissue includes a bonus track of a song called “The Wizard” adding another great track for such a timeless classic.
For those that didn’t manage to snatch up a copy of this album before it became unavailable, now is your chance to own this nice piece of Pyramaze history. It has stood the test of time and remains an absolutely brilliant record at such an early stage for this band. Melancholy Beast got the ball rolling, and lucky for the fans it is still going.
Written by: Chris Martin
Rating: 9/10
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