If someone asked me to name the top 3 US power metal bands that released an album after 2010, I would say TANAGRA, ETERNAL CHAMPION and VERSCYTHË. The first two bands moved to a more progressive and epic metal direction respectively, but VERSCYTHË chose the more traditional 80s power metal scene.
In 2013, this amazing band from New Bedford, Massachusetts debuted with “A Time Will Come“, the best album of that year which brought back the early FATES WARNING sound. Unfortunately, the band after that album did not present something else, leaving us with some incredible tracks, such as “Unfinished on Earth” or “Till the End of Time“, the latter of which is one of the best songs in the history of US power metal.
And now, 12 years later, the band returns with its second album, and of course the curiosity and the agony of an old fan of the band are reaching the highest levels. Fortunately, the band doesn’t betray its fans and once again we have a great release.
Everything that we knew about VERSCYTHË is here. Tons of powerful guitar melodies, fantastic vocals again by Justin St. Pierre, and an old-school power metal feeling that we don’t meet nowadays. Of course, the production is contemporary and doesn’t remind us of the sound of the debut, making VERSCYTHË a bit more melodic and perhaps dark, but the general vibe of the album is like bringing the classic US power metal to 2025 with a sweet melancholic but always up-tempo point of view.
VERSCYTHË did it again; they present an album which doesn’t follow any recipes and is based only on the band’s imagination and vision. Power metal for endless daydreaming, power metal which can accompany you to your most difficult or the happiest moments, like the most faithful and sincere friend. And all this, surrounded by the beautiful music of the album which reaches its peak especially with “Acid Dreams” (if IRON MAIDEN still had inspiration would sound like this), “Animal” (which starts like ANNIHILATOR’s “The Edge” but turns out completely different and is one of the band’s best songs) and of course “Unlife” which is perhaps the best power metal song of the year.
“La Deuxieme Hantise” – which means “The Second Obsession” (what a great title for a second album!) – is an excellent choice for someone who matured over countless hours of listening to US heavy/power metal and now continues to nostalgically look for similar characteristics in modern bands. We ought it as fans, not to miss the chance this time and leave this band go unnoticed again. Or, to paraphrase a band’s song: “… This Love (is not) Long Lost…!”
Check the discussion about the band and the album in our forum pages.
