MATS LEVÉN’s SKYBLOOD – Skyblood (2019)
Swedish super-singer MATS LEVÉN has delivered his signature vocals for a number of bands and projects ranging from melodic hard rockers Treat or Yngwie Malmsteen to the power-metal shred of Firewind as well as Gus G’s solo hard rock material.
For a number of years, Mats Leven has been bitten with the solo act bug, and has retreated into his home studio – when possible – to compose, arrange, and perform what is one of the more unique sounding releases of his career, entitled “Skyblood”, requested here.
This is a mixture of the aforementioned styles, where he performs the majority of the instrumentation (helped by Last Autumn’s Dream & Treat ex bandmate Nalle Påhlsson among others), as well as all of the vocal heavy lifting, which is extremely impressive.
From the opening track, “Skyblood Manifesto,” and its synth arrangements, it is clear this is not your dad’s Molly Hatchet rock’n’roll. From the keyboards to the exotic percussion, and the worldly influences, this is a well-considered mature product of wisdom and maturity.
At times, it skirts dangerously close to some absolutely (gasp) prog-rock sensibilities. One of the noteworthy aspects of this record is that Mats Leven does not just stay in default “Mats Mode” for the entire record. There are actually many areas where Mats operates in a dark brooding timbre like a bitter phantom living beneath this particular opera.
Picture Geoff Tate at the beginning minutes of “Suite Sister Mary,” or some of Ripper Owens’ delivery on “Glorious Burden.” While there may not be seven different Axl Rose to hear in this case, Mats does an adequate job varying his attacks to where when classic Mats comes to the microphone, we know he means serious business.
From the dark and foreboding nature of “Once Invisible” to the strangely addictive beats and drive of “For or Against,” the album has a little bit of everything, at least within its own parameters.
It is unfortunate ”Skyblood” has not received more press or fanfare, because it deserves to be heard. The hard rock, prog and melodic metal scenes are starved to their very root systems for the reinvigorating waters of variety and newness, and Skyblood delivers. Very seldom does this album seem to be doing what the listener might expect.
We highly recommend it.
01 – Skyblood Manifesto
02 – The Voice
03 – The Not Forgotten
04 – Wake up to the Truth
05 – Once Invisible
06 – One Eye for an Eye
07 – Out of the Hollow
08 – For or Against
09 – Le Venimeux
Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion – Mats Leven
Bass – Nalle Påhlsson
Drums – Martin Axenrot, Peter Karlsson, Sebastian Sippola
Additional Guitars – Fredrick Åkerson, K. Niemann, Marcus Jidell
BUY IT
www.amazon.co.uk/Skyblood/dp/B07XW8DX5S
