TwilightfallFormed in 2010 by Nokturnal Mortums’ lead guitarist Wortherax in Kharkov (Ukraine), Twilightfall is a melodic death metal band with plenty of keyboard accompaniment for that neoclassical edge they use as a great atmospheric enhancement.

The title track “The Energy Of Soul” opens the album and Wortherax’s vocals have a slightly raspy quality to them that make the guitars sound sultry and smooth under them. The lead is also a classy run up and down the fret-board at high speed while the song’s pace remained rather steady.

“Spirit Of Ancestors” is also rather mid-paced with Odalv’s drumming beating a tattoo on snare while his feet batter the kick drums at twice the pace until the bluesy tapping for the bridge allows the lead guitar to meander slowly before kicking everything back up a gear for chunkier triplets accompanied by heavier guitar.

Beautifully airy but with a vicious undercurrent, “A Mirror Of Dreams And Reality” has Aywar & Wortherax’s guitars shredding through the gruff vocals before speeding away as frantic leads only to be reined in as the song tries in vain to subdue itself and the leads break free once more.

Freyr’s bass rumble on “Welcome To New Day” is littered with twiddly leads and a nice slow vocal roar by Wortherax. The song speeds up to sound a bit like a demented carousel then calms down again with a bit of a black metal edge to the vocals and very symphonic sounding guitar.

I don’t know why but I keep thinking Candlemass when “Your Chance” starts, but that’s quickly dispelled as the sound has a far too vivacious feel to it that almost makes one want to prance around giddily with a large grin on their face. As the song tapers off to a pianoforte bridge it still maintains all its energy which it ejaculates forth in a hearty increase of pace and manic lead frenzy, ending rather sated.

“Go A Long Way To Each” opens with a hauntingly mournful guitar and whispered lyrics, but it’s the lead that nearly brings a tear to the eye as it evokes the sentiments it clearly conveys.

Quite easily the liveliest track on the album, “Storm” kicks off with a nice chunky thrash riff before it speeds up to pagan metal sounding speed and bounciness.

All in all this is a very pleasant album that shall leave the listener feeling rather uplifted and in a jolly good mood owing to the extremely cheerful disposition of all the songs contained therein. Have a listen and see if you can disagree.

(7/10 – Marco Gaminara)

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