VIOLET ETERNAL – Reload The Violet (2024)
Continental divides no longer pose an issue when the desire to create music trumps everything… What do you get when a shredding Japanese guitarist joins forces with a powerful, melodic Italian singer? Check out VIOLET ETERNAL for your answer. The band came together when the duo decided to create a new Melodic Metal band, blended with Power Metal and a dash of Progressive to deliver fast paced rhythms with big, sing-a-long melodies.
Recruiting session players from Italy, New Jersey, Texas and Japan to fill out other roles, this debut album ”Reload the Violet” took shape – adding seasoned producer Dennis Ward as the proper man to mix/master the final product, making this melodic power metal material even more enticing to experience.
Oh, and add to that maestro from the genre Timo Tolkki helping with songwriting.
Jien as the main songwriter has a distinct love of midtempo to speed riffs with the right oriental, neoclassical charge – influences especially including the work of classic Stratovarius, Angra, and current favorites Beast in Black. Immaculate phrasing positions his guitar action in thrilling ways – right away “The Echoes of Time” hits all the right syncopated virtuoso elements one wants in a speedy main opener.
The follow-up “Now and Forever” showcases Ivan’s thoughtful vocal melodies – uplifting and resolute in the chorus, hitting that siren eagle notes for that extra spark next to some galloping riffs that add dynamic flavor.
From there the versatility challenges the listener in a way most melodic power metal albums never venture into – “Ember Flame” presenting some forceful modern rock/stunted musical passages that mirror Ivan’s aggressive meets resplendent vocal delivery, while “Never Surrender” serves up an 80s-oriented hard rock framework, the main vocal harmonies commercialized to the hilt, allowing Jien a chance to execute a longer, shred-fueled break in heroic fashion.
Listening to Ivan transform his melodies in Oriental phrasing within “Under the Violet Sun” makes sense, the layers of guitar harmonies sure to make this a future favorite for the Far Eastern audience.
While the drum programming isn’t blatantly obvious, Heaven’s Tragedy’s drummer Ryuya performs on the final two tracks “Over the Sorrow” and “Sonata Black”, and you can tell the extra human touch in specific fills or transitions allows these songs to shine even brighter – the latter given a co-writing assist by ex-Stratovarius main man Timo Tolkki.
The album also features guests Takao (MinstreliX), Gabriel Guardian (Immortal Guardian), and keyboardist YUHKI.
In under 40 minutes, Violet Eternal with ”Reload the Violet” create an enjoyable, familiar blend of melodic metal with European/Japanese ethics on hand. Should be interesting to see if this will be an active outfit, as there’s something magical in these performances worth exploring for future records.
Highly Recommended
01 – The Titans
02 – The Echoes Of Time
03 – Now And Forever
04 – Ember Flame
05 – Under The Violet Sun
06 – Land Of The Golden Sun
07 – Never Surrender
08 – Heartless
09 – Over The Sorrow (feat Takao & Gabriel Guardian)
10 – Sonata Black (feat YUHKI)
Ivan Giannini – Vocals
Jien Takahashi – Guitars
Guests:
Timo Tolkki (ex-Stratovarius) – Songwriting
Takao (MinstreliX) – Guitars
Gabriel Guardian (Immortal Guardian) – Guitar/keyboards
Andrea Cappellari (Nekomata, ex-Skeletoon) – Guitar
Ollie Bernstein (Derdian) – Bass
YUHKI – keyboards
Ryuya Inoue – Drums
Pre order:
violet-eternal.com/store
