Metal De Facto – Imperium Romanum
Rockshots Records release: 22 November 2019
Quo Vadis? Is it Power Metal or not? (see VIDEOINTERVIEW with singer Mikael Salo). Some time ago this band wanted to make “Power Metal great again” … Well, let’s try the other way round: I would describe the sound as Maiden meets Ensiferum meets Sabaton (especially for the choruses) – and then I would also count in Pretty Maids (keyboards), Sonata Arctica and Helloween – from the 80s – and even Blind Guardian (Ides Of March). And yes, I do know that many of the bands mentioned have nothing to do with Power Metal either … In other words, Metal de Facto are difficult to define in terms of genre. Classic Metal Groove, Speed, Hardrock, almost-Industrial-Metal and in between something like a Pop song. There’s a pure widely acoustic ballad “Echoes in Eternity”, and the Europe-inspired “Bacchanalia” opening shows how much fun the band had recording this album. And I also need to mention the ear candy quality of the whole material.
All songs clearly show in quality of songwriting, soli and overall concept the virtuoso (Metal veteran) line-up, namely
Mikael Salo – Vocals (e.g. Everfrost)
Esa Orjatsalo – Guitars (ex-Dreamtale)
Mikko Salovaara – Guitars (Ex-Kiuas, Leverage)
Sami Hinkka – Bass (Ensiferum)
Benji Connelly – Keyboard (Everfrost)
Atte Marttinen -Drums (ex-Kivimetsän Druidi)
It is simply fun to listen to the album, to the creative play with several clichés which put a big smile on a Metal fan’s face. Great stuff. And about the genre, well, Metal De Facto are de facto – Metal.
Quod erat demonstrandum: Video clip “The Conqueror”
TRACKLISTING:
01. The Conqueror
02. Legionnaires’ Oath
03. Naturalis Historia
04. Inferno
05. Bacchanalia
06. Echoes In Eternity
07. Colosseum
08. Ides Of March
09. The Ascending Of Jupiter
10. Germanicus (ft. Maurizio Iacono)
For more info:
www.rockshots.eu
www.metaldefacto.com
www.facebook.com/metaldefacto
www.instagram.com/metaldefacto
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9/10