Harmonize Oracle - 2024 - Before the Oracle
(28:26; Harmonize Oracle)
Track list:
1. Chained Spirit 4:05
2. Phoenix 6:17
3. Crawling Among Shadows 9:27
4. Shield Wall 4:05
5. Another Holy War 4:32
Line-up:
Not stated
Cypriot band Harmonize Oracle started out back in 2012, and used the band name Harmonize for the first decade and a bit. They released their first full length album "Warrior in the Night" under that name back in 2020 as a matter of fact. Now they band have returned with the band name revised to Harmonize Oracle, and the self released mini-album "Before the Oracle".
The contents of this production is one new song, one song from their debut album, and a total of three cover songs to boot. And from this handful of compositions, it is their new song that impress me most. From a more atmospheric laden opening that reminds me ever so slightly of Iron Maiden and on to a big, majestic metal tune with orchestral overlays and rich guitar backing that combines into a compelling whole that have a little bit of a symphonic quality to it, complete with powerful, melodic lead vocals and occasional power metal oriented surges. A vibrant and compelling affair for sure.
Getting to have a second opinion on the band's older 'Crawling Among Shadows' was just about as impressive on this occasion, and from what I believe I can hear the song have been subject to at least a little bit of adjustment for this occasion, with the instruments coming across as a lot cleaner sounding for starters. Otherwise this is an intriguing run through a small handful of different but related styles and types of metal, and again with a little bit of a majestic feel being present.
Of the cover versions I enjoyed the band's take on Satyricon's 'Phoenix' more than the other two, with the slower paced guitars creating a nice and natural contrast to the busier drum patterns while the darker toned, melodic vocals in use slots nicely in as a further slight contrast as well as a compelling element in its own right. For me and my taste in music and perception of music I wasn't that convinced about the extreme metal goes a bit folk and possibly a touch Manowar inspired on the cover of Amon Amarth's 'Shield Wall', and the pacefilled and vibrant speed metal goes power metal take on Blind Guardian's 'Another Holy War' isn't one I'd select over the original either I suspect.
All in all this is an interesting mini-album though, and I regard it as a positive that it is the band's own material that I find to be most intriguing. One may hope that the choice to include some cover versions on this production will draw in some curious newcomers to what this band has to offer. If you enjoy a more vibrant and majestic variety of metal the band's own material are solid excursions into those territories, and for me at least those two songs are the major selling points of this production.
Olav M. Björnsen, December 2024
Links:
https://harmonizeoracle.com/
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