MYSTFALL – Celestial Vision (2023) *HQ*
“Celestial Vision” is MYSTFALL‘s introduction to the international metal scene, combining the traditional symphonic metal sound and atmospheres with an enthralling melodramatic approach. All songs feature catchy melodies, big choirs and some very tasteful orchestral arrangements; the whole record is influenced from classic epic stories, cinema, celtic and classical music too. The superb and touching voice of front-woman Marialena Trikoglou is the icing on the cake on a series of elaborated compositions.
Musically the album is quite heavy at places, very atmospheric at others, always melodic. Lyrically, the “Celestial Vision” concept is quintessentially philosophical, looking for an answer to the perennial quest for ‘meaning of life’.
Resting Heaven is a cinematic style orchestral intro track that slowly builds up your anticipation of what’s to come. The band then unleash the title track, Celestial Vision, and it’s everything that you would expect and more. Choral and operatic vocals are beautifully blended, with occasional brutal male vocals. The soundtrack is just divine, with fabulous orchestral arrangements sprinkled with just enough Metal to add some real bite.
Centuries continues in the same vein with a very bold and heavy theme underpinning cathedral filling choral and angelic vocals. This is music of truly epic proportions that fills every corner of your mind with the wonderful soundwaves of another thrilling musical journey.
Hard and heavy riffing track Endless has a much more traditional flavour to it, very much reminding me of early Nightwish. It is a wonderfully crafted and superb piece of music. Silence is a much softer and gentler song altogether. A beautiful piano passage slowly leads into the most vocally outstanding track on the entire album, with moments of such pure serenity that it will move you to tears.
Kings of Utopia picks up the pace and heaviness, with pure metal flowing through it from start to finish. This super tight performance with excellent changes in tempo demonstrates what an accomplished group of musicians Mystfall are.
The hauntingly dark Moral Compass has a very much more gothic feel to the music. There are echoes of doom running right through to the core of this composition, with the vocals fully complimenting the atmosphere created with just the right amount of fragility and vulnerability. This is a very special tune indeed.
The Balance of Time pitches the beautiful vocals of Marialena against the brutal male vocals of Kostas Mexis in that age-old battle of light vs dark, good vs evil. It is expertly delivered, with just the right amount of balance between the two being played out over a spot-on orchestral arrangement.
There is a hint of a Middle Eastern theme to Freedom Path, which is a fast-paced curtain closer to complete a very memorable introduction to the very talented Mystfall. What a great way to finish what is hard to believe the band’s debut album as they sound so accomplished.
”Celestial Vision” by Mystfall is an enjoyable album for any fan of modern Symphonic Metal, and I’m sure they are set to have a great future with music of this quality. There’s many aficionados to this style, here also spiced with progressive metal and some little goth darkness.
Highly Recommneded
1. Resisting Heaven
2. Celestial Vision
3. Centuries
4. Endless
5. Silence
6. Kings Of Utopia
7. Moral Compass
8. The Balance Of Time
9. Freedom Path
Marialena Trikoglou (vocals)
Kostas Mexis (vocals)
Panagiotis Leontaritis (guitars)
Dida Racotoarison (keyboards)
Antonis Desousis (bass)
Manos Agouridis (drums)
Pre order:
www.amazon.co.uk/Celestial-Vision-Ltd-Digi-Mystfall/dp/B0C47C7B2L
