Holy Knights -
Between Daylight and Pain (28.08.2012)
The
band "Holy Knights" was founded in 1998. 2000 the first demo called "gate
through the past" was recorded in the studio Blu in Palermo (Italy). This first
match of the band immediately earned good reviews in the press and so the label
Underground Symphony paid attention for the guys. In April 2000, the band signed
to the label after a line-up change and in November of the same year they began
to work on the first album, the recording of "gate through the past" took place
at the zenith studio in Lucca and the mixdown in the Finnvox Studio 2001. In
2002, Holy Knights recorded two covers of Sword and Heavy Load, which were part
of two metal compilations. While working on their second album, Simone Campione
joined the band, and it was determined that it would be a concept album. To
monitor the work better singer and bassist founded together their own studio but
before the project was completed, the band took a break which lasted 10 years.
During this time, the musicians were not idle and dedicated themselves to
various side projects. In 2010, Holy Knights found back together to complete
their second album, but it should be different than planned. The band had the
idea for arranging a more powerful album, it should be faster, with orchestral
support and a symphonic explosion. In April 2012, the album has already been
released in Japan via Rubicon Music Japan. Now it is also available in the rest
of the world. After 10 years of development time, I'm really excited about "Between
Daylight and Pain".
The
description of the CD is promising. So power on the hifisystem and let us start
with "Mistery" the first song, which starts very atmospheric and bursts into
brilliant grandiose power metal. The track is driven by the drums, the singer is
supported by choir-like backing vocals, which gives the refrain a special
richness. Melodic interludes interrupt the metal part and light up into a guitar
firework. Now that's a really good start for the album. "Frozen Paradise" is
held very quiet and a little bit playful at the beginning, in addition to the
piano sounds the guitar take part to lift the song into an explosive and
powerful new sphere. But the synthesizer elements are disturbing because they do
not really fit into the track. "Beyond the mist" goes its own way, it is fast
and very powerful, so this is power metal. Nevertheless, there are throughout
the song orchestral backing tracks without beeing overloaded. The melody is
really exciting, and I really liked the interludes of the guitars, that's also
the point where the band takes a bit speed out. All in all a very great song,
which you can hear easily a second or third time. The fourth song is called "11
September" and opens with a piano track. Just befor the guitars starts to play
you can hear an airplane. Now i am a little bit confused, but it rapidly became
clear to me that it must be a musically discussion of the disaster in 2001. Some
parts of the song sounds like Russian folk music and other like clear uptempo
metal, impulsive and powerful almost like an hymn. On first listen is "11
September" a little getting used to but with every time hearing the song it gets
better and better. The next song" Glass Room" starts with a classical Orchestra,
but quickly the guitars and the drums lead the song. Always accompanied by
violins. Guided by the voice of the singer this song is an absolute tip for the
CD. The sixth song "Wasted time" I can also recommend without a doubt, it is
just great and even after repeated listening it does not get boring or lose
power and expressiveness. 2 thumbs up for this song. "Awake" 2nd last track on
the cd, and Holy Knights let it rip again. This is power metal at its finest,
rhythmic, melodic simply bombastic, sounding guitars, heavy riffs and driving
drums. The grande finale on this album "The Turning to the Madness" introduced
by patter of rain, rises playful and melodic, almost symphonic. In addition to
the quiet but powerful vocals are the orchestral interludes, then a diffidend
guitar and then the transition to voice and orchestra at the end a finish
ringing, the rain falls and then silenced the track.
Conclusion: 10 years of waiting time were surely worth it. Holy Knights burn off
a brilliant power metal fireworks. They gave everything: orchestral elements,
driving powerful guitars and soulful vocal performances. The production is very
good and must not hide and the variations are very good and even after repeated
listening the album is not boring. Only the use of the synthesizer in "Frozen
Paradise" is disturbing and takes the song some pluses. "Between Daylight and
Pain" is recommended for all fans of bands like Hammerfall, Rhapsody of Fire and
Kamelot.
Line
Up:
Dario Di Matteo
Vocals/ Keyboards
Simone Campione
Guitars/ Bass
Claudio Florio
Drums
Soundquality: 10/10
Variation: 9/10
Cover: 8,5/10 Booklet: 0/10
Total: 9/10
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