Dyed White

“Dyed White” is the first recording of Japanese Melodic Power Metal band Mistielegy. A band which I can’t do much research on, seeing all info about them seems to be in Japanese.

The EP starts out with a short keyboard intro, which has a symphonic and neo-classical feel to it, mainly due to the violin-esque and piano melodies that accompany the atmospheric synths that function as background. The intro flows into the first real track of the EP, “Fallen Star”, which essentially follows the feel of the intro, but adds a stomping and fast power metal rhythm. The band also employs some nice guitar leads to spice up the song. The third track starts out with a great groovy drum rhythm accompanied by the keyboards and a beautiful vocal line, before the guitar kicks in and the keyboard melodies turn dramatic. Worth noting is “Rain Embrace”, which shows the band is also able to create a metal ballad.

In short, Mistielegy play fast power metal, with a very heavy symphonic influence and a great feel for variety, seeing the band effectively alternates between calmer and full out blasting passages. Next to that, all instruments get their individual moments in the spotlight, primarily the keyboard in the song intro’s, but the guitar player also gets the chance to play some nice leads.

The vocals are handled female singer Marie. I stress she is in fact a female singer, because the Japanese male singers seem to enjoy dressing up as a girl very much. Something which have frustrated me immensely when looking for new female fronted bands. She has a fitting voice for a Power Metal band, somewhat in-between a operatic and clear voice.

The production could certainly improve. Everything sounds somewhat muffled and especially the rhythm guitars and rhythm section seem to suffer from this, since the vocals and keyboard overwhelm the other instruments somewhat when the whole band is playing together.

All in all, Dyed White is a promising debut release, which suffers from a somewhat lacking production, but is enjoyable nonetheless.