FORTRESS UNDER SIEGE – Phoenix Rising (2014)

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Greek prog metal band FORTRESS UNDER SIEGE were formed in the ’90s but after a good EP the group disbanded. They ressurected four years ago and reunited to record their first full album.
Still alive & kickin’ and with ex-Spitfire vocalist Alex ‘Hannibal’ Balakakis at the microphone, Fortress Under Siege returns with their second effort “Phoenix Rising” to be released tomorrow, December 15th.

Phoenix Rising offers a good blend of traditional metal with strong prog nuances, but Fortress Under Siege is also strong on melody and putting some solid hard rock groove into many songs. Notably it underlies the chorus or vocal arrangement as within the “Final Attempt” (a highlight) or the title cut “Phoenix Rising”.
The arrangements are mostly large on riffs and big solos, as heard in “Eagles Fly Forever”, a true heavy number and a good example of a song built almost entirely on these two characteristics.

Alternatively, the band finds room for additional variation throughout the album. For instance, “Hate What We Like” turns more upon the power metal motif, but with some slight harsh heaviness that keep the band’s sound updated and where Balakakis can sound quite raw.

Within “A Martyr’s Death” you find more traditional progressive metal with the tempo changes, but also many flourishes of keyboards, often playing off the guitar solos.
For something not nearly as bracing as most of the album, there’s “Whisper In The Dark”, a metal hymn that moves mostly by vocals and light guitar. Sturdy riffs only come at the end.
“Blue Valley Shadow” also dails back on the heaviness somewhat with riffs drawing down to a moderate churn and Balakakis’ vocals rising above them. Yet, at about two-thirds in, lead by a short bass solo, those riffs advance and fine solo directs the song to it’s conclusion.

Overall, “Phoenix Rising” isn’t the most novel progressive metal and Fortress Under Siege is not reinventing the wheel here, but this is an album which works flawlessly.
It has the right playing time, just ten songs (around the 4 minute mark average) and it is both well composed & played by musicians who have a vibrant creative focus, and that makes “Phoenix Rising” both interesting and entertaining.
Recommended stuff.

01 – Don’t Let Go
02 – Phoenix Rising
03 – Hate What We Like
04 – Universal Conspiracy
05 – Eagles Fly Forever
06 – Final Attempt
07 – A Martyr’s Death
08 – Whisper in the Dark
09 – Eyes of the Snake
10 – Blue Valley Shadow

Alex “Hannibal” Balakakis – Vocals
Georgios Georgiou – Keyboards
Fotis Sotiropoulos – Guitars
George Kritharis – Bass
Giannis Dimoulas – Drums

BUY IT !
www.steelgallery.com/sgr/releases/cd/item/337-fortress-under-siege-phoenix-rising
www.amazon.co.uk/Phoenix-Rising-feat-Hannibal-Fortress/dp/B00O6Y9C6E
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