Morifade - Empire Of Souls

(CD, Ice Warrior Records, 2011)

MORIFADE is a Power Metal band from Sweden formed in 1992. They have released a total of six albums including the current release, “Empire Of Souls”. This is a highly talented band with a short but very rich history of true Metal releases. One of the most used guitar effect in Power Metal these days is the usage of dampening/palm muting that I trace back to primarily to ICED EARTH and MORIFADE does a great job of incorporating it into their sound.

The songs on this album are very memorable and almost classic. I know that’s a bold statement, but these are superbly crafted songs that have some true staying power. I fully expect this release to get high reviews across the board and not just from Power Metal enthusiasts like me, but from the metal community in general as well.

I knew the vocalist sounded familiar to me, so I looked up his bio to see if I could remember why. It turns out he is the vocalist of another band I really like, RISING FAITH. They, like MORIFADE, are an exceptional band. Kristian Wallin is a very talented Heavy metal vocalist. He has a distinct sound and a certain way of enunciating the English language that makes him stand out in a manner where he is instantly recognizable. Many of these songs sound like they have been out a while because they are so classic in sound. Check out the song “My Silent Serenade” and you will see what I mean. The chorus is fantastic and enjoyable. MORIFADE have just elevated their status in the field of true Metal. I truly believe that this is a landmark release. “Road Of Deception” has a fast introduction that could cause some heads to bang. You have been warned. Neck-braces not included. Enough of the lame humor, I don’t see how you cannot bang your head at least a few times to this song. The production is just shy of perfect.

You get a lot of epic moments on this album from the grandiose keyboards to almost choir like choruses that really enrich the songs by adding a lot of character to them. This is a release I want to listen to over and over again just to make absolutely sure I embrace the songs fully. The riffs are excellent and well played. The tempo changes are done in a fashion that shows maturity. They aren’t done to add complexity to the songs just for the sake of showing off the fact that they have more than one speed. They are done because they need to be done, not to satisfy the ego. The songs range in variety in the subject matter. They are diverse and interesting. The machine gun drumming section of “Impact Of Vanity” is a great moment that got me to grin like the Cheshire cat. I must also mention the bass playing. The bass blends in so well you can tell Henrik Weimedal is showing restraint and not overplaying that result in notes played above the rest of the mix. I am not fan of that style, and it is nowhere to be seen here. Henrik did a fantastic job here.

Overall, MORIFADE have managed to land a spot on my top ten list of the year so far. That is quite an accomplishment when I think of the sheer volume of releases I go through each year. Also worth mentioning is the great guitar soloing. Never do they reach the level of noise. They are very melodic and restrained enough so as to not sound pompous or pretentious. They feel like they belong. As a matter of fact, everything belongs here. There are no moments where an instrument sticks out in a odd fashion. The compositions are tremendous. The keyboards are used sparingly and to good effect.  There is also a lot of energy in the songs. Make sure you give this band a listen. They deserve some appreciation thrown their way. This is a great album.

9/10 

Links:

www.Morifade.com
www.MySpace.Com/Morifade
www.FaceBook.Com/Morifade.Official

Tracklist:

01. Bleeding For Lust
02. A Cry From Void
03. Come In Blood
04. Fear Breeder
05. My Silent Serenade
06. Road Of Deception
07. Recemblance Of Hate
08. Impact Of Vanity
09. Strenght In Solitude
10. The Dark Resignation
11. A Sinister Mind (bonus)

Lineup:

Kristian Wallin - Vocals
Fredrik "Frippe" Eriksson - Keyboards
Robin Arnell - Guitars
Mathias Kamijo - Guitars
Kim Arnell - Drums
Henrik Weimedal - Bass

Written by Jonathan Maphet Tuesday, 06 September 2011 19:47