Arwen - Memories Of A Dream
2002 - Arise Records
By Philip Whitehouse
Available from Plastic Head Music Distribution - Click Here
Eight members? We haven't got another bunch of Slipknot wannabes, have we? Well, actually, that couldn't be further from the truth. Arwen consist of two keyboard players, two guitarists, two vocalists, a bassist and a drummer, and they thankfully lack masks, boiler suits and the ability to hypnotise millions of teens to part with their parents' greenbacks for hoodie after hoodie.
No, what we have here is a fairly straighforward but undeniably impressive mix of power and prog metal that conjures mental images of Helloween and Vanden Plas jamming together whilst under the influence of absinthe and Tolkien. 'Memories Of A Dream' is all about soaring vocals, uplifting choruses that make the blood pump all the harder around the body, melodies to die for and solos that make amateur guitarists like myself feel like giving it all up and learning to play the triangle instead.
Starting with the near obligatory instrumental, symphonic track 'Transcendental Overture', Arwen immediately lay out their prog-metal tendencies for all to see, an impression that is strengthened by the beautiful acoustic track 'Woodheart'. For the most part, though, power metal dynamics lead the way. Surging lead breaks, hyper-velocity riffage and double-bass drumming are the order of the day, with the intro to 'Once Upon A Time' in particular bearing an alarming similarity to 'Future World' by Helloween.
Arwen keep things interesting by incoporporating their proggy tendencies in an interesting, original fashion. The aforementioned 'Once Upon A Time' soon gives way to M. Carmen Castano's seductive tones for a slower-paced, quite touching passage which in turn gives birth to another, more subdued but no less impressive impressive solo, which builds in its fret-melting intensity as the song gathers pace once again.
Overall, this is fantastic stuff for those trad-metallers who long once again to hear the likes of Iron Maiden and Helloween at their creative peaks, and it will also be of interest to those who think that the likes of Vanden Plas and Dream Theater are at their best in their more metallic, balls-out moments.
8.5/10
2002 - Arise Records
By Philip Whitehouse
Available from Plastic Head Music Distribution - Click Here
Eight members? We haven't got another bunch of Slipknot wannabes, have we? Well, actually, that couldn't be further from the truth. Arwen consist of two keyboard players, two guitarists, two vocalists, a bassist and a drummer, and they thankfully lack masks, boiler suits and the ability to hypnotise millions of teens to part with their parents' greenbacks for hoodie after hoodie.
No, what we have here is a fairly straighforward but undeniably impressive mix of power and prog metal that conjures mental images of Helloween and Vanden Plas jamming together whilst under the influence of absinthe and Tolkien. 'Memories Of A Dream' is all about soaring vocals, uplifting choruses that make the blood pump all the harder around the body, melodies to die for and solos that make amateur guitarists like myself feel like giving it all up and learning to play the triangle instead.
Starting with the near obligatory instrumental, symphonic track 'Transcendental Overture', Arwen immediately lay out their prog-metal tendencies for all to see, an impression that is strengthened by the beautiful acoustic track 'Woodheart'. For the most part, though, power metal dynamics lead the way. Surging lead breaks, hyper-velocity riffage and double-bass drumming are the order of the day, with the intro to 'Once Upon A Time' in particular bearing an alarming similarity to 'Future World' by Helloween.
Arwen keep things interesting by incoporporating their proggy tendencies in an interesting, original fashion. The aforementioned 'Once Upon A Time' soon gives way to M. Carmen Castano's seductive tones for a slower-paced, quite touching passage which in turn gives birth to another, more subdued but no less impressive impressive solo, which builds in its fret-melting intensity as the song gathers pace once again.
Overall, this is fantastic stuff for those trad-metallers who long once again to hear the likes of Iron Maiden and Helloween at their creative peaks, and it will also be of interest to those who think that the likes of Vanden Plas and Dream Theater are at their best in their more metallic, balls-out moments.
8.5/10
