Dying Sun

This is the band’s promise of a deeper look at the songwriting process for their music. Dying Sun has some latent similarities with the previous effort, but it’s more direct and coherent. Instead of the over the top keyboard fest of “Oniric Transition”, this album’s focus is in the guitar work. In general lines, the sound is heavy metal-influenced thrash with a keen eye for melody, with semi-death metal vocals.

Before anything, it’s important to notice the clean up in the song structures. Here we won’t hear clueless keyboards floating around, something unfortunately found at “Oniric”. Their role here is secondary: They aren’t present in every song but the discreet (even scarce) use gives depth to an already good solo, or complements a melodic riff, giving a slight special touch to the music. In the only moment when they are the main instrument (the beautiful “Inner Ghost”), you can hear the unbridled excellence.

Dying Sun is much more “metal” than the predecessor. The guitars improved dramatically, both in soloing and riff work. This time around, I feel everything I need is here and being executed with taste and accuracy. The lead work is reminiscent of old school heavy metal, being melodic, well structured and memorable. As for the riffs, the band finally started showing their ability to write some fresh stuff mixing up some the heaviness and melody. The way they are arranged is more equilibrated, avoiding excesses in name of a supposed “complexity” that in reality is nothing more than mess. The keyword here is fluidness. Fluidness and catchiness, exactly like any good heavy metal album.

Overall, it’s a great effort where every track is good. But in my opinion, the second half shines a bit more, having the most representative song: Gods of Silver. It has everything that makes this album so good: The screaming melodies, the excellent solos and riffs, the timid presence of the keyboards and the occult power that will make you like it in the first listen. Get it now if you like memorable and well-executed heavy/thrash metal.