BELLS AND RAVENS – What Death Cannot End (2022)
BELLS AND RAVENS new album “What Death Cannot End” released today is like a statement back to a time when adjectives like “heavy” and “epic” were considered characteristics of our beloved metal genre and there was no need to put each new band into a separate drawer. A time when it wasn’t seen as a weakness if not every song on an album sounded exactly the same, and most importantly – long songs like Hallowed Be Thy Name, Child In Time, Diary Of A Madman or Master Of Puppets were the measure of all things!
Since 2018 BELLS AND RAVENS has been the baby of ex- Contracrash guitarist / songwriter Matt Carviero putting clear where his priorities lie; powerful riffs, huge choruses, bombastic arrangements and sprawling instrumental parts.
The German guitarist is supported by top-class singers such as Zak Stevens (Savatage, Circle II Circle, Trans-Siberian Orchestra) or Tim “Ripper” Owens (ex-Judas Priest, ex-Yngwie Malmsteen) just to name a few, so expect quality classic melodic metal here with touches of progressive, sympho, neoclassical and more, very well produced.
Carviero is the mastermind playing guitars, keyboards, bass, etc, but the whole thing sounds like a band with bassist Roberto Palacios (Chinchilla, My Darkest Hate, Goblin’s Blade) and the drummer Claudio Sisto (Mystic Prophecy, Goblin’s Blade, Contracrash and more) who unfortunately passed away last year.
From the intro of ‘Your last Sacrifice’ with Tommy Laasch (Late Nite Romeo) on vocals, the intention is clear; create huge rousing metal with fist-pumping choruses, huge vocals and thumping rhythm section. ‘’The headless Horseman’’ is further proof with Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens providing the vocals. It’s massive, bombastic with familiar stories and ideas yet turned all the way up to 11.
Then it’s Savatage great frontman Zak Stevens who shines in the eight minutes of “The Scourge Of The Seven Seas”, where he delivers a wonderful performace between calmer passages with pianos and furious metallic sections. At places, early Avantasia comes to mind.
Ripper Owens rocks again on the groovy ‘Master Of My Fate’, while Carviero shows his guitar skills with the own arrangements on ‘1773 (Symphony No, 25 In G Minor KV183 – I Allegro Con Brio)’ by none other than Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, adding some neoclassical ala Malmsteen to the album.
It’s true that BELLS AND RAVENS may don’t have the budget of Avantasia, but the line-up equally good and talented, and most importantly, it works. Matt Carviero is a talented songwriter & player, from whom we will surely hear a lot more in the future.
Highly Recommended
01 – Your Last Sacrifice (feat. Tommy Laasch & Julian Scott)
02 – The Headless Horseman (feat. Tim “Ripper” Owens)
03 – Scourge Of The Seven Seas (feat. Zak Stevens)
04 – Martyrs & Illusionists (Victory), Pt. I (feat. Selin Schönbeck)
05 – Zone Of Pain (feat. Jürgen Volk)
06 – Beyond Redemption (feat. Tobias Hübner, A. Mozer & T. Schmeer)
07 – Dishonored (feat. Tommy Laasch)
08 – Master Of My Fate (feat. Tim “Ripper” Owens)
09 – 1773 (Symphony No. 25 in G Minor KV 183: I. Allegro Con Brio)
10 – Martyrs & Illusionists (Home), Pt. II (feat. Tobias Hübner)
Matt Carviero – Guitars, Keyboards, Bass
Roberto Palacios – Bass
Claudio Sisto – Drums
BUY
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0B3JHW5DZ
