ARIES DESCENDANT – From The Ashes Of Deceit (2024)
Frontiers Records will release next weekend “From The Ashes Of Deceit“, the debut album from ARIES DESCENDANT, a collaboration between melodic metal virtuosos Jonah Weingarten (PYRAMAZE) and Nicklas Sonne (DEFECTO).
While Symphonic metal at its core, “From The Ashes Of Deceit” mixes melodic metal, prog metal, epic orchestration, huge choruses and bombastic production to great effect. The albun has a ‘big sound’ indeed that hovers skillfully on the fine line between majestic and clinical, and with orchestral and keyboard arrangements that wear their “more is more” inclinations like a shiny, gold badge of honor. In terms of heaviness and metallic bite, ARIES DESCENDANT are no slouches. Even when veering off on keyboards / strings-drenched detour, the razor-edged riffs and whirlwind kicks that propel everything are powerful.
Additionally, if you are a G.O.T. fan, from the cover art to some songs / interludes really will please your ears.
The sum of all those meticulously performed parts is most tellingly expressed through the more progressive and extravagant likes of “Symphony Of Demise” and “Echoes Of Betrayal”, with high levels of pomposity while also letting ARIES DESCENDANT’s yards-wide, fantasy movie soundtrack streak off the leash.
Similarly, cellist Tina Guo brings her sublime skills to “The Heart Of The Forest”: a gorgeous epilogue that shimmers to a restful fade, dreamily cinematic to the core – very ‘Game Of Thrones’ like.
Elsewhere, discerning fans of symphonic and power metal have plenty to sink their teeth into. At their heaviest on uproarious opener “Aflame The Cold” and the brooding, theatrical “Downfall”, Weingarten and Sonne never become too distracted by symphonic trimmings, remembering that heavy metal is the beating heart of this thing.
And yes, it does all sound fantastic: big, bombastic, finely detailed and flamboyant. Sonne is atrue surprise, he has a terrific voice that punches home every melody with great gusto, and Weingarten’s lavish scores are uniformly sparkling.
“From The Ashes Of Deceit” is a strong first foray, and ARIES DESCENDANT have potential in abundance.
Highly Recommended
01 – From the Ashes of Deceit
02 – Aflame the Cold
03 – Oblivion
04 – Symphony of Demise
05 – Moira
06 – Downfall
07 – Renewal of Hope
08 – Mechanical Ascendance
09 – Echoes of Betrayal
10 – The Heart of the Forest (Feat. Tina Guo on Cello)
Nicklas Sonne – Vocals, Guitars, Bass
Jonah Weingarten – Keyboards, Orchestration
Pre order:
amazon.com/Ashes-Deceit-Aries-Descendant/dp/B0DB2KKPCZ
