TERRA ATLANTICA – Beyond The Borders (2022)
Germans TERRA ATLANTICA are a band who like to tell stories, all wrapped by a melodic power metal crafted with clean arrangements and pristine production. Their new CD “Beyond The Borders” is set in the year 1848.
With the British Empire being defeated, the vacuum of power in Europe has led to the uprising of the Prussian dynasty, ruling over the continent with a fist of steel. A group of young people set out on a quest to fight against this oppression with the aid of a magical stone which supposedly will guide them the way to Atlantica. But they are being followed! A pursuit across land and sea begins…
It’s an entertaining album to have a fun time, 47 minutes of ‘adventure metal’, cleverly built and executed.
First track ‘Overture‘ is a fitting start to the album. It moves from tune to tune with a pleasing sense of cohesion and whets the appetite for what is to come. ‘The Scarlet Banners‘ is a massive track that Iron Maiden would be pleased to call their own. Tristan Harders has a really smooth rock vocal that soars above the music, but barely seems to be stretched at any point. Along with the voice, he has a theatricality that is irresistible.
‘Far From Alive‘ starts with an unexpected jangly guitar and a song that sounds like Del Amitri, which gives it a very different feel to the opening track. The instrumental break in the song raises the tempo and it reverts to the power metal style of the previous track. It is very well constructed and extremely enjoyable.
The fourth cut is the title track, which has fantastic drumming and a thumping bass to underpin a song that has choral singing and power to spare. This is a track that will be fantastic when they tour the album. ‘Sun of Pontevedra‘ is another good song with all the pieces of the band coming together really tightly to produce another epic piece of music.
‘Guns and Drums‘ has a Jethro Tull feel to it and goes about its business in the style of a sea shanty. It’s great fun and it serves as a full stop on the first half of the album.
‘Just One Look‘ is a rock ballad that starts the second half of the album with a bang. It benefits from Harders usual excellent vocal performance but is lifted above every other track by the guest singer Khatarina Stahl. Their voices blend perfectly and there is an echo of Meatloaf in the duets and the performance itself. For me, this is the absolute standout track on the album, and one of the best rock duets I have heard in years.
‘Hellfire‘, appropriately enough, takes us back into heavy rock territory with a loud, proud and visceral piece of music that once again demonstrates the ease with which Harders is able to soar above any piece of music, however loud. It is a bravura performance that shows he is without doubt in the top rank of rock vocalists.
The final trio of tracks starts with ‘Pirate Bay‘. It has a Madness style piano at the start and then the guitars and bass join in. it’s fascinating to hear the piano underpin the whole song especially with everything else going on. Terra Atlantica always seem to be having great fun when they play, and never more than when they are throwing the kitchen sink at a tune! ‘
‘The Great Escape‘ is the seemingly obligatory epic song that bands put into an album to demonstrate their mastery of longer form songwriting. Not surprisingly, Terra Atlantica nail it. There is a piano at the start that sound for all the world like the opening riff from Money, Money, Money. To start off an epic song in the style of ABBA really makes the listener sit up and take notice!
The album finishes on a high with the triumphant ‘Take Us Home‘. It is a hymn of praise to a concept that never wavers throughout a highly enjoyable album.
Highly Recommended
01 – Overture
02 – The Scarlet Banners
03 – Far from Alive
04 – Beyond the Borders
05 – Sun of Pontevedra
06 – Guns and Drums
07 – Just one Look
08 – Hellfire
09 – Pirate Bay
10 – The Great Escape
11 – Take Us Home
Tristan Harders – Vocals
Julian Prüfer – Bass
David Wieczorek – Guitars
Nico Hauschildt – Drums, Vocals (backing)
BUY
www.amazon.com/dp/B0B77WW81N
