What can change in a band with a truly tight line-up that brought out an exceptional and memorable debut after eight long years of standing by until the release of their sophomore album?
Well, NOT the line-up and NOT the quality characteristics that made their sound so distinctive and fascinating in their first album. What may have changed is the band’s determination to step up their game and create even more dramatic, intricate and melodic progressive metal!
Yes, we are talking about SUNBURST; Vasilis Georgiou on vocals (BLACK FATE), Gus Drax on guitars (BLACK FATE, SUICIDAL ANGELS), Kostas Milonas behind the drum kit (MAJOR DENIAL, BRAVERIDE, FORAY BETWEEN OCEAN) and Nick Grey on bass (MORPHINJECT).
And yes, we’re talking about their second album, “Manifesto”, that came after their amazing debut, “Fragments of Creation”, which had already set the bar and put our hopes really high.
In their new album, SUNBURST keep reminding in the best way possible the bands that clearly inspired them, CONCEPTION, EVERGREY and KAMELOT, moving a little further from the sound of NEVERMORE and getting closer to TRESHOLD and HAKEN, always remaining obviously and fruitfully influenced by the great ones like DREAM THEATER and SYMPHONY X.
The material is heavier and more unconventional in its content compared to the debut album, certainly more multifaceted and lyrical, with songwriting and musical arrangements that create a vivid, movie-like soundscape – that’s what encouraged the band describe themselves as “cinematic progressive metal”, a term quite catchy yet not delusive at all.
Bob Katsionis (STRAY GODS, WARRIOR PATH, VAS/KATSIONIS, CAPTAIN HAWK, OUTLOUD) performs as guest musician all keyboards on the album and John K came up with the orchestral arrangements on the songs “The Flood”, “Hollow Lies” and “Nocturne”. These songs alone could convince even the most demanding listener about the level of excellence of SUNBURST’s second work. Still, there are also some outstanding tracks like “Perpetual Descent” with all its melodic density or the magnificent “From the Cradle to the Grave” that make “Manifesto” such a precious prog release.
Speaking of it, let’s see a definition of the word “manifesto”: a statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, views or beliefs.
Well, my friends, then this is what SUNBURST’s “Manifesto” consist of: HOPE, CONFIDENCE, SPIRITUALITY and POSITIVE EXISTENTIALISM, expressed by marvelous compositions, brilliant musical development, impressive instrumental parts, intense guitar riffing, soaring melodic vocals and deeply emotional, memorable melodies.
The result is a must-have album for fans of progressive metal, an epic journey of lush cinematic vibe!
“Manifesto” will be released on June 14th by Inner Wound, on CD and LP.
Check the discussion about the album in our forum pages.
You can pre order both CD and LP here.
