HORIZON'S END

HORIZON'S END formed in 1993, and almost 20 years seeing them again; this energetic 4th opus on a melodic metal base with progressive symphonic breaks surfs on the 80s and 90s, at the crossroads of vintage power and progression.

"Damage" intro.. bombastic, I read on SHADOW GALLERY yes why not, I think it's much more metallic, the choirs ahead but an aggressive vocal, a nervous speed riff on HELLOWEEN, sound lots of metal bands from the 80s and 90s like KAMELOT comes to me there; bass break and zappaesque guitar arpeggio, crazy before a beautiful guitar solo and the choirs again in a symphonic drift. "Last to Succumb" medieval folk before releasing 90s prog metal; the break on the original sound of Mános Hadjidakis tickles the ear before a return that rings in my memory on many groups. "The Trail of Notes" a one-shot rock opera on the New York Rock'n' Roll Ensemble, a used tune for a fresh sound, surfing on Mr BUNGLE, QUEEN and a black text taken in parody, a delirious melodic title; crazy and fresh with an explosive end filled with keyboards, riffs, festive choirs to dance to. "Another War with a crystalline fluid keyboard intro then hollywood metal à la RHAPSODY; the technical guitar solo with a triple pedal and the strafing keyboard to the classic cinematic break. "Catalyst of Fear" for two minutes of intro-happiness, symphonic; after a consensual title with its easy-flowing prog slope; melodic synth break and soft and nervous finish.

"They Will Rise Again" aggressive melodic metal; SYMPHONY X, ANGRA, MALMSTEEN to the millimeter with a fine folk-medieval arpeggio, to feast on victory on the battlefield. "Nightmares" smelling of RHAPSODY OF FIRE, with classical piano and nervous guitar, all served by machine-gun drums; acclaimed melodic power metal in the 90s; yet another solo from Kosta sets fire, helped by Sakis the head to think of the group. "The Parade" futuristic electro synth and a usual melodic chorus track; a crescendo gives strength, scale and metallic heaviness; title that rises and gives emphasis and a tiring length. "Voices from the Sea" futuristic metal synth intro worthy of the growl contribution of Theoharis of HAIL SPIRIT NOIR, denoting other titles; yet the heavy riff was well highlighted by these keyboard notes; Kosta releases the most beautiful solo of the album, female voices adding to the strange side; one last fusion break. "Postcards from War" with an epic, progressive and majestic intro, Vassilios on an original and moving hushed vocal register, melodic, playful air and fluffy, Arabic and warlike synth breaks, a title that changes the situation a little late.

For those who are missing this epic genre right now.

Their second offer from 2001 named Concrete surreal is good prog metal album. Maybe because the band had some problems between the first album and this one, 2 years where most of the mebers were gone repleaced by other including the vocalist now Vassilios Topalides, who is to me at least a much renowed vocalist . So, this album offer same progressive metal atmosphere, with complex arrangements, some pieces are real killers like The Road To Grovelling, on this track the musicianship and ideas are top notch, realy fantastic piece, shows how great this band was in progressive metal field. Another tracks worth metioning are Dividing Vanity the longest from here 11 min of hogh quality prog metal, superb arrangements are great vocal parts. A Soul and Saced lover anothe rhighlights here, beautiful voice and excellent songwritting, more fresh in arrangements over their first album, the sound and mixing is better and it shows big time here, with this album Horizon's End enters in big league of progressive metal, realy great album. Even this band is mainly influenced by Dream Theater, with this album they offer something of real intrest for progressive metal fans, no borders here, with killer keybords interluded with guitar in a great way. 3.5 stars easy

Here we have one of the best progressive metal bands coming from Greece who released so far 2 albums. The first album named Sculpture on ice issued in 1998 and graced by an excellent cover art made by Maria Staikou as booklet shows has a good and quite complex progressive metal pieces. I was pleasent surprised by this band who realy know how to please avery progressive metal fan with this thier first release. Long piece, the opening had 17 min named To count the stars is a realy great track where every musician shines. All is ok here, well balanced album, great performance, musicianship is more then ok, the main problem, if not realy bad is the voice of George Strapatas, who has sometime that special non english speaker problems, but in the end not bad only better said unpleasent to ears in some parts, to theatrical on high notes. So I will give to this debute a solid 3.5 stars rounded to 4 because of the cover art and rest of the booklet , anyway the music is also worth metioning if you are a prog metal fan.

I remember my self, being in the late '90s a progmetal fan, searching to find this cd because I listen in the radio the track "New Jerusalem". When I finnaly find it I left behind every Fates Warning and Dream theater cds and listening again and again, over and over this cd! Well lets strar from the weak side of this cd. The production isnt that good, the vocals sometimes are a little bit out of tune (also too melodramatic for others!) and the synth sounds are ...bad and bad producted. In the other hand this is a music full of passion, beautifully composed and structured, with always a sence of creativity. Comblicated but also melodic, even the long pasages and the instumental parts are so intresting fitting enormously within a song form. And there is something more here: personality! They play prog metal(other call them neoprog(?))but there is nothing like F.W or D.T or even Psychotic Walls here! They have their own voice, their style goes beyond the standar prog metal. Classical influenses, jazz-fusion ,even greek "ways" (listen the enormous begining of "COLOURS". Great melodies on New jerusalem. "To count the stars" is a big journey with strange harmonies, complex rythms and an epic conclusion. So If you searching for the best 90's Greek metal cd, this is it! Inteligent, high passionate music in a complex and melodic form!(Next alboum is also nice but ther's something missing from Sculpture on ice's magic!

The beautiful HELLAS-GREECE offers here a great prog metal band called HORIZON'S END, beautiful name ,but what is more beautiful is the music of the Greeks!A very interesting and artistical cover proves that the image of an album must have also an impact on the listener! And,from the first notes,we have massive riffs and some double pedal drum rhythms and overall a great vocalist called GEORGE STRAPATAS- a true revelation!For more than an hour the Greek band proves for a debut album some unbelieveble complex and mature musical ideas!Some influence from classical clichees of prog metal,but a very mature ensemble of all the instrumentation and construction of each song!Great tempo changes in the same song,surprising breaks and technical sparks of aguaranteed effect and plenty moments of virtuosity for each member of HORIZON'S END!The opening song of the album TO COUNT THE STARS with it's more then a quarter of hour of music makes a strong impression ,it's trully an impact which give to the listenre a very positive perspective of what follows!A succession of ideas,moments and themes that are so well ensembled in a complex musical structure,this opening track!From aggressivity to calm moments and a very wide range of vocal expressivity from George proves the surprisingly elaborated musical credo of the band! SCULPTURE ON ICE has everything what a prog metal loover wait from an album in this style- great songs,great compostions,fgood techical skills,good production too-it's guaranteed that amateurs of modern prog will be deeply satisfied.If you find this album,it 100 % deserves to be in your collection.It's not at all an ordinary album and HORIZON'S END is a band with personality and well defined ideas!The second album of the band is strong too,but this debut one is impressing! 4 STARS for a little musical revelation-especially the vocalist!

I have three points to mention about this album. 1) The production-sound is really poor and doesn't help their ideas at all 2) The vocalist sings with a terrible greek accent (I'm Greek I know what I am talking about!!!) 3) Everything else is PERFECT!!! Ladies and Gents this is the greatest greek band ever! Their conception of Progressive metal is far beyond the Dream Theater idea. The use of Violin gives an extra point of interest to the crazy but at the same time so down to earth compositions. There are not many bands that could have written a song like the 16 minutes opening track "to count the stars". the whole band has an exellent tecnique ( not the singer, we said that!!!) but I have to mention especially the keybord player. Having seen them live 5 times (I am lucky enough to come from the same city) I have the opinion that he is the best keyboard player I have seen live. Make yourself the favour to listen to this album! (Ok, ignore the singer, he is not that bad, it's just this greeklish accent!!!)

I'm not the great fan of PorgMetall,but this CD is one of my perfect.Greatly influenced by Dream Theater from the one hand(or even prog-power),it is also influenced by Greek Folk Music."Soul" is nice neo-prog stuff,IMHO,while "Sandfalls" contains all the Sadness of the world,I think...much darker than Lacrimosa,Opeth or some other Gothic-related bands."Sacred Lover" is also goth-related song...while "Under the Face of Regret" is great example of simplicity from the band.Excellent for the Radio,really!!! But mt favourite one is opening epic "Dividing Vanity"...aah..awesome.Kinda "Metropolis" from these Greek Professionals!!!The band sounds marvellous,they DO know how to make you be involved by their music. Highly recommended for all Prog-metal fans