Six years were more than enough to build up the anticipation for the band’s previous album, “Atlantis”. It was their third full-length release, it was absolutely great, and thankfully, we had to wait for only three years to offer us their new work, “Envy”, that will be released on October 13th, once again by Rock of Angels Records.
We had already heard “Ride the Thunder” as the first single of the album -official video clip on August 18th- and it has been quite a teaser but also an excellent sample of what to expect from the new album. That is, a hell of a lot of energy, interesting melodies, unstoppable power and some truly amazing choruses! I emphasize the word POWER and the way that the band delivers it, certainly merits appraisal!
Opening track, “Bring Out Your Dead”, full of rhythmic force, is an ideal song to get the listener hooked. “Ride the Thunder” follows next in the same style and “Distant Voices” -album’s second single, second official video, released September 16th- offers some nice melodic parts that reappear at “Look at You”, and believe or not, this is already half of the album. Oh yes, you guess correctly, it just flaws NICE and EASY!
The fans of previous album won’t be unpleasantly surprised, on the contrary, “Envy” seems to naturally continue the style that FORTRESS UNDER SIEGE established with “Atlantis”.
It’s true that the group took a decisive turn towards more power than progressive sound. That is also the case with their new album. Has it been a good turn? It has definitely been a SUCCESSFUL one and maybe that’s all that matters!
Speaking of progressiveness, “Disobey”, right in the middle of the tracklist, is one fine art of more complex songwriting.
Personally, I enjoyed more the second half of the album, reminding me not only the melodic/powerful standout songs of ICED EARTH and their likes, but also the mellowness of modern-era heavy metal; “Straits of Glory” and closing track, “Burning Fleshes”, are perfect examples of what I just described.
There is an uplifting mood in the whole album, choruses are catchy but not tiring, guitar work is excellent, rhythm section and instrumentation are very well balanced but one cannot be impressed by the exceptional vocals of Tasos Lazaris; I find them outstandingly good!
So, all in all, if you are into melodic/power metal in its typical, true form, then The Envy won’t let you down! NOT A BIT!
Mamercus
Second opinion
I was quite surprised to notice that the Greek Prog Metal veterans are highlighting a straight and modernized Heavy / Power Metal oriented formula on their latest album, without leaving their Prog elements aside.
Their songwriting is fresh, solid, riff based and straightly melodic. The guitars are shaping the material’s main basis both on their rhythm and lead expressions and the vocals are taking the songs to the very very next level.
The adventurous rhythm section which has became a remarkable trademark on the Fortress sound through the year is still here, alive, kicking and reminding the overall Prog Metal installment of this amazing band.
The album flows smoothly and its listening is an very enjoyable experience. Not like your typical “technically performed but overall boring record”.
If you spend some more time listening to the songs you would discover lots of interesting elements that highlight some more technical magic of complexity and it is great that all this mentioned stuff have been wisely rounded to a final result that can easily make you to turn up the volume on a louder level listening to “Envy” again and again.
Well done Fortress!
Chris Papadakis
“Envy” will be released on October 13th, once again by Rock of Angels Records – You can pre order it here.
Check out the discussion about the album on our forum pages.
Check some FUS airplay on our radio show:
