Gate of GaiaBeta is the debut album of newcomer Brazilian heavy metallers GAIABETA. The band was founded in 2017, and after performing locally to great acclaim, now release their first ever recording work. And the result is excellent!
GAIABETA‘s sound, a mix of traditional heavy metal with distinct European power metal influences, may on paper read as something typical for the underground scene at this point in time. However, on the stereo, that statement could not be further from the truth!
Yes, the musical formulae are known, but GaiaBeta attacks them with a fresh energy! The sound is a love letter to the classics, but the production is decisively modern and well polished. Marcos Diantoni‘s vocals are technically flawless, yet in contrast to many modern metal singers, spotless technique doesn’t equate to a lack in character. Marcos combines his skill with ample emotion, and flexes his abilities only when the musical vision of a track requires it, thus making it even more special.
The guitarwork on this album is another high point. There’s a healthy mix of fancy soloing and catchy riffs, enough to excite but not too much, so as to distract from the musical themes of the tunes themselves. The guitar playing switches back and forth between a more melodic EUPM style and a more grounded heavy metal one, again achieving a nice balance.
My sole complain, is that the band’s high energy style can get a bit tiring in the latter stages of listening. In my personal perspective, though the bonus tracks in the CD version are a nice gesture for the fans who support the band, they extend the album’s runtime a bit too much. The original 8 tracks is long enough, and make for a great listen!
Gate of GaiaBeta is an excellent album in its niche, and I do not say that lightly. Due to the saturation of its particular scene, one has to listen to it to believe it. But once you do it’s game over!
GAIABETA – Gate of GaiaBeta will be released by Pitch Black Records on May 16th 2025.
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Check the discussion about the album in our forum pages.
