PATHWAY TO HAMLET'S MILL

BLACKSMITH TALES draws its musical roots from varied progressive rock, playing early covers of GENESIS, KANSAS, PINK FLOYD, RUSH and GENTLE GIANT, since 1990. A tenuous, rich, symphonic sound with numerous ramifications.

"Hamlet's Mill Overture" symphonic, dithyrambic, airy, grandiloquent, stirring, heavy, brilliant; 2'30 to throw nothing away before leaving on a soft air reinflated by the fat and velvety synths; the vocals held by Stefano and Beatrice coming from Italian power metal. The piece blowing hot on the embers, melodic and heavy symphonic with keyboards for an incisive crescendo. "Key to the Temple" on Hollywood metal with tone, lyricism and instruments of yesteryear; hard riff, swirling pads. RHAPSODY, SYMPHONY X folk, medieval AYREON with the aggressive violin; the vocal duo alternates the lively voice with the solemn choir. The finale is martial with a crazy organ solo and another on the guitar using the wa-wa pedal; a good symphonic progressive metal. "C'è Casa a 30 Miglia" warm vocal by Beatrice in Italian for the energetic ballad talking about memories forever gone; a typical RPI title with flute and vibrant spleen guitar. "The Flame Within" harpsichord opening then energetic organ with the nervous pad, it starts off as modern RPI prog metal, much more expressive than the aforementioned genre. The fast break intertwined with the wild heavy choir of a VISAGE, yes there is inventiveness. Riff, synths, piano, the notes rush out, advantageously mixing symphonic rock and dreamlike expressive metal; I find some of the madness of ETERNITY X, Beatrice excelling in the final chorus, leering like Tarja on a divine soprano.

"Interlude: A Guide Through the Path" with a haughty and solemn crystalline piano leading to "Descent of God" on a prog metal worthy of a rock opera with the voices; a sound smelling of the orient with the melody, the phrasing sung like MEAT LOAF. The powerful riff with the harpsichord then the female choir, AYREON in the distance with his medieval flute. The drum break and drift of the 1001 nights brings the musical spice, the search for the saving solo; nervous, calibrated. "The Pendulum" short, mysterious electronic intro bringing the deliquescent piano for the melodic prog metal piece; ambient, spatial break with serious voice-over, the drum punctuating this moment, putting the sauce back with the vocal duo. We are well in the typical rock opera space with a final aerial piano solo. "Dance of the Stars" a capella by Beatrice in beauty and its tonic, medieval violin; on a Celtic IONA. This cheerful folk rock gives pride of place to the voice, reciting its story in a rhythmic and jerky way. The intense folk break with the endless violin and the intertwined voices in the distance for a clever mix of prog rock, heavy folk, innovative in itself and the finale in the style of MOSTLY AUTUMN.

BLACKSMITH TALES has potential finally, with time and repeated listening, it is very good and very innovative to boost my rating. Originelly on Profilprog.

Social review comments

Review related links

• Send comments to alainPP
• Report this review (#3117639)
• Buy BLACKSMITH TALES music online with PA partners
• Show all BLACKSMITH TALES MP3/Stream
• Go to BLACKSMITH TALES page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Pathway to Hamlet's Mill page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for BLACKSMITH TALES related discussions