Release Date: Out Now!!!
Label: No Remorse Records
Genre: Power Metal
Links: https://silentwinter.bandcamp.com/album/utopia
Line Up:
Vocals :Mike Livas
Guitars: Kiriakos Balanos
Guitars: Vangelis Papadimitriou
Bass: Vangelis Tsekouras
Drums: John Antonopoulos
Keyboards:Maria Mosxeta
Tracklist:
We Burn The Future
Hellstorm
Hands Held High
Reign Of The Tyrants
Manifest Of God
Reborn
Heart Is A Lonely Hunter
Silent Shadows
Utopia
The Greeks, much like their Italian counterparts, have mastered the art of power metal. Through refining and perfecting what came before, both nations now dominate the landscape of new releases in the genre.
Silent Winter, emerging from Greece, stands among these notable acts. Though their initial run from 1995-1999 yielded only highly coveted demos, their 2018 comeback has produced three albums, including Utopia. Their sound occupies the sweet spot where Judas Priest, Primal Fear, and Helloween intersect.
The album’s foundation echoes Helloween with Stratovarius influences woven throughout. Mike Livas’s vocals evoke memories of both Rob Halford and Ralf Scheepers, while Maria Mosxeta’s keyboard work infuses elements reminiscent of Rhapsody and Stratovarius. Like a distinguished 1982 Bordeaux with its complex notes, these varied influences blend to create something distinctively their own.
What sets Livas apart is his versatility – beyond the typical soaring vocals associated with Ralf and Rob, he employs a gritty lower register that adds traditional metal elements to the mix. Paired with the driving riffs from Kiriakos Balanos and Vaggelis Papadimitriou, this combination brings a compelling groove to tracks like Hands Held High and Reign of The Tyrants.
Manifest of God showcases John Antonopoulos’s Accept-inspired drumming, creating an accessible entry point for casual metal listeners. The album concludes strongly with Silent Shadows – a standout track – and Utopia, a finale worthy of Helloween themselves.
Written by: Adrian Hextall
Ratings: 8/10
https://open.spotify.com/album/1cfjUjEl76PZANIVwDS5gs?si=82xMtK4jSyqzKvrIQlLLWA
About Author
