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On disc: Infinite Horizon



Soul Reducer - Claudia Ehrhardt - 7 stars
Dominion - Claudia Ehrhardt - 8 stars


www.infinite-horizon.de







Dominion

Dominion
(Black Bards - 2009)


Due to problems with their former record label there was a gap between Mind Passages (2004) and Soul Reducer (2008), now they are back with Dominion. The new album is heavier, more metal and offers progressive power metal. The opener I'm Alive has a dark edge and reminds me of Brainstorm / Symphorce. Singer Marc Lemler even sounds a bit like Andy B. Franck.... A good opener! God Of Lies shows them more aggressive and modern, but don't expect them to cross the boarder to metalcore! Instead you get some complex parts. Keyboarder Bastian Fuchs leads you into 28 Days where the keyboard adds an 80's touch, but the progressive rocker has a dark atmosphere and is based on heavy riffs. With twists and turns they lead you through this one. Lyrically the song is based on the story of Donnie Darko - and what to do when you have only 28 days left. The thrashy Liar is the heaviest song on Dominion, the opening made me think of Evergrey, but then the song changes and becomes a thrashy power metal tune. Just the keyboard seems somehow out of place... On the other hand it's a counter part to the heavy riffing... Balladesque with a keyboard intro begins Code Of Decadence, but the song turns into a melodic powerful tune with a catchy hook. For the middle part they slow down and lead guitarist Thomas Bäcker adds an emotional solo. The song is about a rationalized world, a world which seems to be based on a binary code - in a way a contradiction, coz music is about feelings and feelings don't fit into a binary code. A dash melancholy you can find in Lines In The Sand, a mid-tempo tune with a great vocal line. The closer is Oblivion, a slow, atmospheric tune which is more an outro then a balladesque song. The song is quite different compared to the other stuff and so perfect as the closer.
The songs of Dominion are interesting for fans of power metal who like the music spiced with some progressive elements. Fans of Brainstorm, Morgana Lefay, Circle II Circle and other power metal bands should check out Infinite Horizon's latest piece of work, but also fans of powerful dark metal might like Dominion...


8 stars

Claudia Ehrhardt
 

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Soul Reducer

Soul Reducer
(Black Bards - 2008)


Infinite Horizon was founded in 1997 and only had one line-up change! Soul Reducer is their 3rd full-length album and even if their last one - Mind Passages - was released in 2004 they haven't wasted time. And again the band tried to stay away from cliche lyrics.
The opener is called Children Of Tomorrow and touches a topic many people think about. Musically they are based in progressive power metal, but the keyboard of Bastian Fuchs adds an 80's touch. After about 3 minutes they head into a long guitar-based passage, towards the end the keyboard comes back up-front and singer Marc Lemmler takes over again. The high scream seems to me a bit out of place, but well... A bit heavier and more riff-based is Burning Bridges, but again they combine heaviness with melody and complexity. This one reminds me a bit of Symphorce... For the song The Thin Line they slow down a bit. The song has a melancholy touch and talks about any soldier dying in a war or coming back psyched. A dark rocker with a catchy hook, but the song gets a bit lengthy... At Facing Mr. Hyde I expected a bit more aggression... A keyboard-based balladesque tune is Under Bloodred Skies which deals with the self-destruction of mankind. The song lacks intensity, at least for me, coz it can't touch me. But it's easier said then done. Towards the end of the album they get heavier and at Into The Void they give it a modern touch. The closer is Dark Side Of The Sun, a song from Beyond Infinity which gets live very good feedback and so they decided to re-record it. How much this version differs, I can't tell, but that it's working well live, is obvious.
Well, I think Infinite Horizon did a good job, but perhaps should shorten the songs a bit, coz they can't keep the attention of the listener til the end. Or they have to add some twists and turns... Add speed changes. Anyway, it's a decent album and interesting for fans of power metal who liked their music peppered with some progressive elements. Check out: Tears Of Jerusalem, Children Of Tomorrow and Into The Void.


7 stars

Claudia Ehrhardt
 

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           ©2008-2010 by Claudia Ehrhardt • E-Mail: contact@ice-vajal.com


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