KENZINER – Phoenix (2020)
“Phoenix” is the upcoming new album from Finland-based 5 piece KENZINER, which define themselves as classic metal, neo-classical and progressive power metal. And whilst I agree with the latter, their sound is much more melodic than a lot of Euro Power purveyors. The heavy use of Keyboards give them a distinctly different tone.
This new album has a perfectly balanced production, no surprising from a band who have almost three decades of history.
As mentioned above their music is a very keyboard-driven version of European Power Metal, the drum and bass delivery is in that genre, but this is peppered with influences such as Rainbow, Queensryche and even a bit of Uriah Heep, all of which can be heard in “Curse Of The Pharaoh”, which is the song which sums up their sound neatly, and is one of the best tracks on this very Egyptian inspired – concept album?
The cover art certainly points us in that direction with its pyramid and bird-headed warriors.
There isn’t a weak song on the album. Some songs are more progressive than others, some are more heavy, and then there is a song like “To Hell And Back” which has a Melodic Rock vibe not dissimilar to H.E.A.T
The pharaohs imaginary is also present on the galloping “Eye Of Horus” (great opener), “Osiris Rising” (pompous) and the aforementioned “Curse Of The Pharaoh”, and there are others which fit this theme without being implicitly titled. However none of this detracts or takes away from the quality of the album.
Which brings us to the last song, which is a beautiful ballad: “The Miracle” is a virtuoso performance of sublime understated vocals, and some stunning guitar work. When you consider their sound is really quite bombastic (“Shadow Of The Moon” as example), some bands would have played the histrionics to the max, but no, Kenziner’s delivery is restrained and so much for the better, creating the powerful, emotional and perfect end to a brilliant album in this genre.
On this new album KENZINER deliver a powerful, very melodic slab of metal served with a very accessible sound production. According to times, this kind of ‘power’ metal will appeal a wide range of listeners from classic rockers to punchy melodic hard aficionados.
Highly Recommended
01 – Eye of Horus
02 – Listen to the Devil
03 – Shadow of the Moon
04 – Tears of Destiny
05 – The Mirror
06 – Osiris Rising
07 – Curse of the Pharaoh
08 – To Hell and Back
09 – Phoenix Rising
10 – The Miracle
Jarno Kestinen – Guitar
Peter “Zinny” Zalesky – Vocals
Jupi Hjelt – Bass
Ariel Perchuk – Keyboards
Mike Lievonen – Drums
Pre Order:
www.amazon.co.uk/Phoenix-Kenziner/dp/B088VQ4FJF
