SACRED OUTCRY – Towers Of Gold (2023)
”Towers Of Gold” is the upcoming album from melodic metal outfit SACRED OUTCRY. Written and arranged by founder bass player George Apalodimas, it is the band’s first album featuring the brand-new line-up of axeman Steve Lado, drummer Defkalion Dimos, and talented Daniel Heiman (Lost Horizon, Crystal Eyes) behind the mic.
“Towers of Gold” is a full concept album directly tied to the ’90s and early ’00s melodic power metal, fused with the legendary ’80s US metal scene, where Warlord meets Blind Guardian and Manowar joins Lost Horizon on a mystical journey through ten chapters / tracks.
”Towers of Gold” packs a hell of a lot of adventuring inside its 55 minutes, musically and in relation to its storyline. Writers such as Robert E. Howard, Le Guin and Moorcock are built into the band’s foundation just as deliberately as is melodic metal with a pristine sonic delivery.
There are many influences afoot, as Apalodimas has a wicked fondness for loading up on Easter eggs – some buried, others more in your face. The intro to “Sweet Wine of Betrayal” is the closest thing to “Defender” you can get without having to sit on Joey DeMaio’s lap atop a plastic-covered sofa.
And when things get speedier (Ride The Lightning adjacent at times, even), not only is there an even more clear nod to Lost Horizon, but classic King Diamond flies across the radar as well. It’s in the way Steve Lado’s riffs charge like LaRocque circa ‘Them’ in “The Flame Rekindled” and the epic title track, it’s all over Dimos’ splashy Mikkey Dee cymbal play in “The Voyage,” and it’s tattooed up and down the multi-layered, ghostly tone of the highest notes belted out by Heiman.
Heiman has long been celebrated for his remarkable 6 octave range and insanely acrobatic high notes, but there’s an unmistakable soul in his delivery as well, and that’s very well suited for Sacred Outcry’s brand of dark metal and the emotional narrative at the heart of this release. So, while it remains to be seen if anyone ever (strong emphasis on that word) manages to pull off the vocal stunt-flying Heiman achieved 20-plus years ago through Lost Horizon, the stormy temperament and melodic sophistication heard throughout Towers of Gold carries his voice to new heights.
Heiman sounds absolutely phenomenal here. He hits insane heights (perhaps even new peaks) with perfect clarity and flair, and his more sorrowful tone gets ample opportunity to glow as the album’s tragic story slowly unfolds.
There’s classic Rhapsody and Iron Maiden in the wind as well. For example, there are moments where Apalodimas’ bass governs the spotlight in a very “Steve Harris epic” sort of way, like in the title track which bends and twists around every shade of triumph and tragedy like some lost Stravinsky symphony. Magnificent.
The full picture of ”Towers of Gold” can be rather overwhelming because of all the details stacked to the ceiling, but time and an eager ear will reveal a great many layers to dissect and enjoy, giving the release an enduring lifecycle that’s sure to stand the test of time.
Sure, it’s still enjoyable on the surface as a more casual listen, melodic, punchy, with a sound that never gets you tired.
Highly Recommended
01 – Through Lands Forgotten (At The Crossroads Of Fate)
02 – The Flame Rekindled (Lurid Lights And Drunken Revelry)
03 – The Voyage (Towards Immortality)
04 – Into The Storm (Beyond The Lost Horizon)
05 – Symphony Of The Night (The Curse Of The Blind)
06 – A Midnight Reverie (Whispers In The Wind)
07 – The Sweet Wine Of Betrayal (The Perennial Sin)
08 – The City Of Stone (The Burden Of The Crownless Kings)
09 – Towers Of Gold (Tempus Edax Rerum)
10 – Where Crimson Shadows Dwell (And Ouroboros Dreamt)
Daniel Heiman – Vocals
Steve Lado – Guitars
Defkalion Dimos – Drums
George Apalodimas – Bass
12-String Guitar on tracks 5 & 10 by Jeff Black
Acoustic Guitars on tracks 1, 5 & 6 by Yorgos Karagiannis
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