Into the Maelstrom

Fans of golden age science-fiction, as well as 1980s US power metal, would do well to give Italy's Hyperion and its exalted sophomore full-length (distributed in April under Spain's Fighter records) a cursory spin or seven, as it's simply so chock full of ripping rhythms/riffs and squelching, masterful leads, the tightened, at times, cyber-kinetic lot of it up-ended by a vigorous battery while fronted by yet another mercurial vocalist-on-the-rise...

Founded in 2015 by drummer Marco "Jason" Beghelli (ex-Strategy of Tension), Hyperion's latest comes on the heels of slightly longer, albeit eight-tracked, Dangerous Days LP, entailing nine more-or-less congruent, astringent shredders, beginning with token titular number, and, immediately, we're assailed with high-end registered Scanner-meets-Annihilator-meets-Steelwing vibes, even if, granted, the bright production level belies each instrumental component equally. Megadeth fans will also solidly revel in cranky-as-Hell, tightly angular riffage, as well as incandescently fierce and melodic soloing - easily the highlight of this forty-some minute nwothm mainstay, the essence of which our compendious friend and colleague Ed so eloquently nailed.

Although I've already flogged such comparison to the rafters, the Steelwing analogy lends itself, mainly, out of Michelangelo Careno's mildly nasal, tremulous caws, very much in line with the Swedes' Riley, or perhaps even David Kuri, of Germany's (now dried up and levied) Booze Control...although, to be sure, the fluidly annexed, multi-layered juxtaposition of the plentiful guitar riffs highly mimics, Android style, that of Steellwing's magnum opus, Lord of the Wasteland, from 2010, and, to lesser extent, 2012's Zone of Alienation.

Also, inasmuch as I dig said eponymous opener, as well as sylph-like secondary instalment, "Ninja Will Strike", with its exotic and crunchy six-string acrobatics, or super trilled, finger-tapped lead break, fawn eulogy on the album as a whole, which sounds that much more polished and accomplished than fore mentioned debut. Proceeding to tune of "Psychotron"-ish "Driller Killer", Into the Maelstrom proves itself highly listenable and/or replayable; thus, a potential third foray should only crest the rise, ever further.

Rounding off the battery, bassist Antonio Scalia plods along like third mate, alongside sidereal likes of twin-axers Davide Cotti and Luca Fortini (also member of Imago Imperil & Storm Chaser), whether it be on sashaying, Matrix-borne alpha "The Maze of Polybius" or mid-game mid-tempo sundry, "From The Abyss" - a kookily gruff outlier, so far as ItM is concerned - and portentous, nine minute variegator, "The Ride of Heroes", which showcases the gang at its most experimental, yet no less futuristically modelled (or mottled).

Essentially, however, nary time - nor years - is/are wasted, in light of fact this LP completely eschews filler...

Hark, then, unto Hyperion's Into The Maelstrom!