ZANDELLE – Perseverance (2015)

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“Perseverance“, the title for New York metal band ZANDELLE‘s fifth long-player (next August 7, 2015) is rather appropriate. Appropriate for any band still trying to play classic heavy / traditional metal, yet needing to duke it out in the underground scene to survive.
More specifically, for Zandelle it’s been nearly twenty years flying under the radar, and this is their first album of new material in six years.

But “Perseverance” finds the band fine form, still delivering their version of American power metal, with a strong classic US metal feel. And power it is as most every song here moves at a brisk pace.
Yet there are some songs that moderate the tempo with melody like “Beyond The Point”, “Innocence Lost”, or the more notable “Avenger of the Fallen”, which has a momentum building progression that gives it a majestic feeling.

Something of additional interest is the enhanced keyboard use throughout the album. It can be something simple like the bright piano sound at the start of “Revengeance”.
Or there’s the classical piano feel that informs the first third of the opening instrumental, “Resurence” (there’s an intentional typo on the name song, as on the title track).

Sometimes the synths seem just a tad too quirky for metal stuff as at the start and within “Beyond The Point”, but that’s why I like this band: not afraid to use keyboards and trying to be original.
Another time, as in the center of “End Game”, the keys solo is featured in a subdued symphonic sense adding more texture to the heavy melody. Also interesting to that song and that segue is the following short, yet fine, bass solo, then guitar, synths once more, and a flurry of drums to finish the moment.

Additionally, throughout, there’s plenty of guitar solos, more crisp and stylized, then fierce, and often paired with keyboards once more as within “Unending Fortitude”, for instance.
This song is also an example of another significant characteristic of Zandelle: harmonious vocal arrangements, and every player in the band adds to the same. Something not all that common in this type of metal.

“Perseverance” is a really fine return to form for Zandelle, offering both interesting and entertaining US metal / power with lots of melody and harmonies.
There’s not much bands out there playing this style as it’s considered old-fashioned, but if you like your classic traditional metal served with substance, melody and good production, Zandelle are among the few who are able to deliver it with gusto nowadays.
Recommended.

01 – Resurence
02 – Unending Fortitude
03 – Lycanthrope
04 – Shadow Slaves
05 – End Game
06 – Beyond the Point
07 – Innocence Lost
08 – Midnight Reign
09 – Perseverence
10 – Avenger of the Fallen
11 – Revengeance (From the Ashes)

George Tsalikis – Vocals
TW Durfy – Guitars, Backing Vocals
Josh Tuckman – Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Joe “Jofu” Cardillo – Drums, Backing Vocals
James Corallo – Bass
Craig Hartranft – Words

BUY IT !
www.amazon.co.uk/Perseverance-Zandelle
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