SECRET RULE – The Key To The World (2017)
“The Key To The World” is the new – third but first with very good label Pride & Joy Music – album by Italians SECRET RULE. The band’s sound is filed under the current ‘light commercial power metal’ tag, but they add a strong sense of melody & catchiness to it.
SECRET RULE is masterminded by lead guitarist Andy Menario (Martiria) who is known for collaborative work with Vinny Appice (DIO), Jeff Pilson (ex DOKKEN), and Carlos Cavazo (of QUIET RIOT fame).
Bassist Michele Raspanti (GRAAL) and drummer Nicola Corrente (STARKILLER SOUND) and female vocalist Angela Di Vincenzo joined in to complete the line-up.
After the short synth intro “The Key” giving an eerie yet breezy start to the album, it paves way for a heavier “The Song of the Universe”. The tune has an upbeat and melodic start, Angela gushes in with her rugged and charismatic voice, Andy flairs up the guitar solo bringing forth a multitude of emotions. The song ends with a beautiful piano outro.
“Empty World” promises much melody and heaviness as it takes off, but abruptly swings to soft melodic vocals which builds up piece by piece bringing the original heaviness back to the track, the guitar solo sweeps you off your feet.
“Are you gone?” has some fine bass pump, fast guitar licks and Angela showcases brilliant juggling different vocal pitch. “Twin Flames” starts off with a razor guitar riff and takes up a progressive style eventually, adding crisp guitar chugs, great background keys, rip roaring vocals and blitzing guitar solo to its arsenal.
“I’m You” (undoubtedly the most experimental track on the album) introduce some electronic elements, then “The Lost Child” is a straightforward rockin’ tune that is sure to get a crowd going, while “No More” is a sad, tender ballad that will prompt the lighters to come out at a live show.
“A Reverie” is by far my personal favorite, a song with a melodic hard rock spirit and sound, and whilst there’s some double bass drums on it, the song is fully keyboard driven, catchy, with a soaring chorus. A highlight.
There are more symphonic-sounding tracks, such as “Trip Of Destiny” but even here the ‘easy listening’ is present, then final cut “100 Poets (Calliope)” is one of the heaviest, with a well created dark atmosphere.
A new band to me, SECRET RULE is pretty darn good act mixing light, very light power metal elements, hard rock, catchy sympho and lots of melodies and contagious choruses.
Production is well balanced, all the instruments get their fair share of spotlight. Angela Di Vincenzo vocals are really strong delivered more in a hard rock vein than the trite operatic, while there’s some seriously good guitar licks by Andy Menario via a punchy set-up sound / effects.
Strongly Recommended
01 – The Key
02 – The Song Of The Universe
03 – Empty World
04 – Are You Gone?
05 – Twin Flames
06 – A Reverie
07 – My Realm
08 – Lost Child
09 – Imaginary World
10 – No More
11 – Trip of Destiny
12 – I’m You
13 – 100 Poets (Calliope)
Angela Di Vincenzo (Lead and Backing Vocals)
Andy Menario (Guitar, Loops)
Michele Raspanti (Bass)
Nicola “Nyk” Corrente (Drums)
with:
Henrik Klingenberg [Sonata Arctica] (Keyboards)
BUY IT !
www.amazon.com/Key-World-SECRET-RULE/dp/B075NC82W1
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