ASTRA – Broken Balance (2014)

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Italians ASTRA started their musical life as a Dream Theater cover band, then they became Astra a band that is now releasing their third album under that moniker, entitled “Broken Balance”.
Surprisingly, considering their prog metal origins (and the cover artwork), the music packed in this CD waters several styles with lots of substance in between.

“Broken Balance” is somewhat progressive but in melodic metal – and at places – hard rock sense. We have an expressive keyboard work of Emanuele Casali, often dueling with the lead guitar of Silvio D’onorio De Meo, and really melodic and interesting vocal arrangements by powerhouse singer Andrea Casali.

Many of the songs are hook-laden and catchy, often riding on the melody or chorus or both, but also dropping in some hard rock groove. “Losing My Ego” is a good example, but “Sunrise to Sunset” is even better: you’ve groove, metal, prog, and a terrific refrain.
Yet after this, most of “Broken Balance” is rather heavy and thumping, as the prog is bumped up in exchange as with “Understand”, or the faster pace of “Faithless”.
Two exceptions come with “Mirror of Your Soul” and “You Make Me Better” which, in contrast, might be called the lighter numbers here. The former seems to move on an early light piano line, developing a semi mid-tempo Queensryche-like vibe, moving to a crushing solo and then a return to the piano.
The latter, which closes the album and it’s one of the highlights, has a bouncing melodic metal skeleton but decorated by a pulsating groove, a catchy chorus an vocal harmonies arranged with British legends Queen as inspiration.

“Broken Balance” is a quite interesting release by Astra, varied and entertaining. The band blends some heavy melodic metal riffs with progressive elements adding to the mix a bump of hard rockin’ groove and catchy accessibility.
Their music is easy to take in, it has some depth but not so that it would take indefinite repeat plays. Production is fairly good, crisp and modern, resulting in a sound never overwhelming for your ears.
If you liked the last Unisonic (Kiske / Dennis Ward), Neonfly, DGM or Starbreaker, you should try Astra’s “Broken Balance”.
Recommended.

01 – Losing My Ego
02 – Hole In The Silence
03 – Sunrise To Sunset
04 – Too Late
05 – Broken Balance
06 – Faithless
07 – Mirror Of Your Soul
08 – Risk And Dare
09 – Break Me Down
10 – Understand
11 – Ending Season
12 – You Make Me Better

Andrea Casali – Vocals, Bass (No Gravity)
Silvio D’onorio De Meo – Lead Guitars
Emanuele Casali – Guitars, Keyboards (DGM, ex-Empyrios)
Filippo Berlini – Drums (ex-Changing Sunrise)

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