EMERALD SUN: Escape From Twilight

Cover	Release	Style
	2007-03-23	melodic power metal
	Label
	www.limb-music.de / www.hardlifepromotion.nl
	Website
	www.emeraldsun.gr
	Contact
	-
	Playing Time	Cat. N°
	52:24	LMP 0703-099 CD / SPV 79382 CD
	Review by / Translated by	Rating
	Vera	8/10
nederlands	Review
Emerald Sun applies to fans of Helloween, Stratovarius and Rhapsody. This means that we can hear mainly ultra-fast, energetic power metal on this debut album, with fine vocals if you do not raise objections against screaming shouts and high-shriek vocals. This really sounds like Helloween! It took this band a long time to release a first album. But it does sound very professional. Their inception goes back to 1998 in the second biggest city of Greece, Thessaloniki. Over there is a lively metal scene where Emerald Sun had to fight against a lot of concurrence in the first years of its existence. In 2003 and 2004 they released the demos ‘Sword Of Light’ and ‘High In The Sky. In January 2005 the sextet barricades the Nemesis Recording Studio in Kavala to work at this debut with producer Tasos Karapapazoglou (Nemesis, Elwing). For the mix and mastering we meet with another well-known name: R.D. Liapakis (Mystic Prophecy, Jack Starr, Chastain). The final product raises the interest of Limb Music Products and the result is a contract for several albums. I find that it took a long time before this album was really available, but I don’t know the reasons for it. The symphonic intro makes the first real track ‘Scream Out Loud’ extra heavy blowing your speakers. Super-speedy metal with high ranged vocals. Same thing goes for ‘High In The Sky’ that starts with the sound of a high-injection plane, but it includes a conspicuous slow, melodic guitar solo. The intro of ‘The Traveller’ is mid-paced as well, and has – analogue with the subject of the traveller – a kind of troubadour atmosphere. ‘Sword Of Light’ is a heroic, catchy song to sing along with a fine guitar solo against a background of solid rhythms. Very beautiful are the emotive guitar parts in ‘Eyes Of Prophecy’, this song is a bit calmer again, followed by speeding up tempo in the heavy Priest alike ‘Escape From Twilight’, a strong song by the way. The band gave its name on a marvellous, long instrumental composition that has an engrossing texture. Only the simple heavy metal cry ‘H.M.’ might be dropped. Cheap. ‘The Story Begins’ is an epic, folksy song. More ‘Lady In Black’ (Uriah Heep) allied than a mellifluent ballad, fortunately. That is about to come in the last track ‘Not Alone’ which occludes this fervid album in a remarkable calm way. Conclusion: very much of a clone of the pumpkins, but well-made and enjoyable to listen to.
Musicians
Jimmy Santrazami: vocals Johnny Athanasiadi: guitars Teo Savage: guitars Fotis “Sheriff” Toumanides: bass Jim Tsakirides: keyboards B-Wicked: drums
Tracklist
Sunrise (1:29) Scream Out Loud (5:08) High In The Sky (6:48) The Traveller (0:57) Sword Of Light (5:58) Eyes Of Prophecy (4:40) Escape From Twilight (5:48) Emerald Sun (6:44) H.M. (4:33) The Story Begins (4:35) Not Alone (5:37)
Discography


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