LANFEAR – The Code Inherited (2016)
Released today July 1st by Pure Legend Records, “The Code Inherited” is the fresh album by LANFEAR, a consistent melodic metal band founded in 1993 which deserve a listen.
If you are new to them, Lanfear play melodic metal with a progressive edge. This band always reminded me of Queensryche, just with a little more busy drumming at places in a typical European fashion.
Since the first music bits you can tell Lanfear sound & production are second to none. Now, I must admit, I was a bit put off at the start with first song ‘The Delusionist’, a rather harsh sounding song with vocalist Nuno Miguel de Barros Fernandes taking a shot at adding gritty vocals.
But we recover with the following ‘The Opaque Hourglass’ and ‘Evidence Based Ignorance’, both returning to the foundation of classic clean melodic metal and superb vocal harmonies.
Those songs and also ‘Converging Saints’ display Lanfear’s trademark sharp and brisk riffage, adding accent to the sometimes galloping rhythm section. Of course, guitarist Markus Ullrich offers an abundance blistering leads throughout, another Lanfear highlight.
These things also define the title track, the longest composition here. It has interesting start with lighter guitar lilting over a significant bass line, later turning quite groovy and progressive with fine atmospheres, big vocals and a great keyboard work in the middle.
More subdued, at least in the first half, comes with ‘Remain Undone’, where the vocals and vocal harmonies ride over dialed back riffage. At the midpoint this leads to another strong bass line presentation with more of Ullrich’s elaborated guitar work.
Then ‘Self-Assembled’ is pretty much in the Queensryche midtempo vein, with that mysterious vocals and ambience instrumentation. One of my favorites.
For something nearly completely different than the rest, there’s the concluding ‘Summer Of ’89’. It’s pretty much a melodic hard rock song lead by the guitar line, yet loaded with groove, melody, and a catchy refrain. It seems Lanfear hooked up with their AOR musical muse.
This closing number feels a bit disjointed with the rest of the material, but darn, I love it, and hope Landfear write more songs like this in the future.
“The Code Inherited” is another solid album by Lanfear, a not so well known band but one that never disappoints. Consistency is the band’s key, and they always sound tight as unit an come with interesting arrangements.
There’s something for everyone here, from ’80s Queensryche and Savatage to Pretty Maids and TNT (check the last track), all melodic, well played and with a clean sound / production.
Strongly Recommended
1 – The Delusionist
2 – The Opaque Hourglass
3 – Evidence Based Ignorance
4 – The Code Inherited
5 – Self-Assembled
6 – Converging Saints
7 – Remain Undone
8 – Summer Of ’89
Nuno Miguel de Barros Fernandes – vocals
Markus Ullrich – guitars
Kai Schindelar – bass
Richard Seibel – keyboards
Jürgen Schrank – drums
BUY IT !
www.amazon.de/Code-Inherited-Lanfear/dp/B01FIT4M1K
.
