SHADE OF FATE

This album surpassed every expectation I had for it, in fact it contains everything that I love about Prog-Metal. This 6 piece band is from Bulgaria of all places, but the vocals are in English and they sound amazing. Check out the creepy album cover ! The band thanks ("for education and inspiration") Devon Graves, PSYCHOTIC WALTZ, FATES WARNING, CRIMSON GLORY, DREAM THEATER and SAVATAGE. Hey there's even some mellotron and moog on this album.

"Shade Of Fate" opens with a powerful and crunchy soundscape with background synths. Vocals before a minute. Amazing sound here. So beautiful when it settles after 2 minutes and later after 4 minutes. "Follow Me" opens with keys as drums then a full sound joins in quickly. Vocals and a lighter sound follows. It kicks back in with some crunch the rest of the way. I like the synths before 3 minutes. "Closer To You" opens with keys as well then kicks in quickly. Passionate vocals follow. Slow heavy riffs take over as the guitar grinds it out before 4 1/2 minutes. A calm follows but not for long. "Trace To Find" is such a cool 2 minute atmospheric track. "Spectastral" opens with guitar as synths and riffs follow. Kicking ass 2 minutes in before fading out to end it. "The Final Line" features lots of tempo changes and it starts with keys and more crunch. Synths and vocals follow before it kicks back in. Riffs with keys after 4 1/2 minutes. Great sounding vocals with heaviness follows. Ripping guitar before 6 minutes. A killer sound after 6 1/2 minutes. What a song ! "Why" has this incredible intro before it settles around 3 minutes to this dreamy soundscape. All hell breaks loose 4 minutes in. Hell ya ! I'm moved 5 1/2 minutes in then we get this experimental ending.

"Mindtrip" opens with synths before this larger than life atmosphere takes over. "Knocking On My Door" is laid back with guitar and vocals to start. It gets mnore powerful a minute in, then heavier before 2 minutes. "After Rain" is mellow to open, it sounds gorgeous after 2 minutes. Heavy 4 minutes in. Incredible ! "Orpheus Whisper" opens with acoustic guitar as reserved vocals join in. Synths too. It turns dreamy a minute in to the end.

Hats off to Ken Golden from the "Sensory" label for picking this outstanding band up. I had my review ready for last week but kept putting it off so I could keep listening to this masterpiece of Prog-Metal. There is nothing about this record I would change.