Some reissues are a true blessing. Not only because you can acquire and have a physical copy of an album that is rare and ‘’crazy’’ expensive to obtain, but also because they shed light on some old and maybe forgotten gems of our beloved music, that remained ‘’hidden’’, all those years.
Such a real diamond of an album, is by all means ‘’Cycles’’ by WICKED MARAYA. It was released back in 1994 and the fact that it has never been reissued since then, for such a long period of time of 30 years, it just leaves me on one hand wondering ‘’why not sooner’’, but on the other hand, heaving a sigh of relief, thinking ‘’finally’’ and ‘’better late than never’’.
What a pity would that be, for some albums, to remain ‘’under the radar’’ for ever, without having the opportunity to reintroduce themselves to the fans, in a potentially much greater extend than before. To make new ‘’acquaintances’’ worldwide, to be known by total new generation of heavy metal fans.
The time ‘’Cycles’’ was recorded, WICKED MARAYA were already a very tight and really prepared strong team of musicians, because it had been more than 10 years of experience since 1983, when the band initially was formed under the moniker ‘’MYSTIC’’, which they changed later on in 1989. They signed to Mausoleum Records in 1993.
The line-up, at the time, was consisted of : John Iadevaio on bass, Mike Nack on drums, Michael Iadevaio on guitar and backing vocals, Dan Malsch on guitar & backing vocals and Lou Falco on lead vocals.
It needs to be highlighted, that the producer of the debut full-length album for the band of Long Island, New York, was the famous Jim Morris of the world-renowned Morrisound Recording Studio in Tampa, Florida, that has cooperated with many famous bands such as SAVATAGE, CRIMSON GLORY and ICED EARTH, just to name a few.
The outcome of those recording sessions was superb. US Power / Progressive Metal at its best. The creativity and the intricate – genius songwriting presented in this album, can only be compared with that of top -notch bands like CRIMSON GLORY in ‘’Transcendence’’ or QUEENSRŸCHE in ‘’Operation Mindcrime’’.
If the aforementioned sentence, sounds like a frivolous exaggeration, just listen to the excellent song under the title ‘’Resurrection’’ and tell me if the dynamics and the extension of Falco’s soaring expressive voice, does not remind you of late Midnight’s voice from CRIMSON GLORY. The same words go also, for instance, about the song ‘’Face In the Mirror’. No need to mention, as well, the song ‘’Watching Over’’, that brings in mind Geoff Tate and QUEENSRŸCHE.
Though not extremely technical, the album has definitely a progressive character. The marvellous riffs and the brilliant song – structure are very hooking, while the drumming is really massive, producing a wall of powerful emotions.
Furthermore, the groove in the sound is present throughout the album, especially in the song ‘’Another Day’’, but not in an extend that would be ‘’too much’’ or ‘’annoying’’ to the ears of someone fond of straightforward and direct US Metal. It adds a lot though, to the emotional soundscape.
For example, in ‘’Forever ‘’, it feels like SANCTUARY are meeting with NEVERMORE and the late WARREL DANE expresses different variations of his voice, trying to compete against himself. There are so many beautiful milestones in this musical journey, with songs such as ‘’Alone’’ and ‘’Sign of Heaven’’, that the listener does not lose interest whatsoever, not even for a couple of seconds.
The album has a perfect music atmosphere that needs to be experienced. It is highly recommended also, as an addition to your personal record collection. We shouldn’t be waiting for 30 years for such astonishing albums to be reissued.
‘’Cycles’’ has been reissued on the 16th of August 2024 by Heaven and Hell Records and is available on CD and Digital format.
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Check the discussion about the album in our forum pages.
