CD Review: Mercury Falling - Into the Void

Written by Petra Whiteley Tuesday, 12 June 2012 08:20

Artist: Mercury Falling
Title: Into the Void
Genre: Progressive/ Power Metal
Release Date: 4th May 2012
Label: Phonotraxx

Album Review

German Dark Power Metal band MERCURY FALLING was founded in 1997 and has several demos and three albums to their names, the latest has just been out last month and is titled as ‘Into the Void’. The Power Metal is underlined with keyboards and darker riffs, at times with a little bit of Progressive. Especially apt to the description of their music as “dark” comes the intro ‘Days of Redemption’, with symphonic undertones and with ambience in the atmosphere, could be even said to be Gothic. It makes for a feeling like being “hit” when ‘Into the Void’ enters with full Power Metal force. The lyrical themes concern themselves with bleaker personal struggles and emotions rather than the prevalent mythological, fantasy and war themes of the genre. There is something wonderfully classic about the music though it also feels distinctive – they’ve made it their own, which in my books is always a great thing. ‘Stranger in us All’ is a powerful song, calling on the anthemic side.

‘Book Of Hate’ has some darkly shaded riffs after superb intro, the verses lift into a chorus that takes it into an epic. Pabst’s vocal is quite ragged and superbly expressive, it really matches and evokes the mood of the songs, you’ll find some guitar solos here that again both nod to the trend’s history but are their own at the same time. ‘When Worlds Collide’ is absolutely unexpected, especially in its first quarter it feels like a song out of the Power Metal family. These guys know that to grab the listener good, attention grabbing beginning can be the key, echoing and foreboding drums turn into a gentle reverie into the catchy hook of the song, more between Hard Rock and Progressive. So the album slowed and instead of the usual ballad moment – this song! ‘Long Way out of Hell’ starts with atmospheric intro again with a tinge of world music,  then turns to a mid-tempo, yet full-fledged epic, which is at times contrasted with slower keys and some great guitar solos.

To sum up, MERCURY FALLING has delivered a truly outstanding album, full of multi-faceted great song with verve to be unique, it takes the Power Metal beyond the circle of the genre’s fans only and begs repeated listens.


Tracklist

01. Days of Redemption
02. Into the Void
03. Stranger in us All
04. Book of Hate
05. In Dark Waters
06. Us
07. Queen of Pain
08. Wash away my Sins
09. When Worlds collide
10. Revolution
11. Long Way out of Hell


Line-up

Michael Pabst – vocals
Tobias Galmarini – guitar
Daniel Galmarini – keyboards
Paul Viertel – bass
Maicel Panitz – drums


Websites

http://www.mercuryfalling.de / https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mercury-Falling/154123067981058


Cover Picture




Rating

Music: 9
Sound: 9
Total: 9 / 10