• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

The Gates of Aramore is the debut from Prydain, a band out of Utah in the United States, that plays a very European-sounding style of fantasy-based power metal. I honestly looked twice to make sure I was reading their location correctly on Metal Archives, that's how European they sound. The presence of the ubiquitous Bob Katsionis (guitar, bass, production) probably has a lot to do with that. Needless to say, they've nailed the sound perfected by power metal legends over the past 20-25 years. The Gates of Aramore touches all the tropes from over-serious spoken word parts to blood-pumping double-kick drum opener through sound effects that put you in the middle of the band's fantasy narrative and plenty of neoclassical flourishes. "Ancient Whispers" has a Keepers-era Helloween vocal line and change-of-tempo songwriting style, and it has Edguy, circa Vain Glory Opera/Theater of Salvation, barn-burning speedsters like "Blessed and Divine" and "Quest of the Fallen." The rest of The Gates of Aramore recalls various power metal luminaries from Rhapsody of Fire to Heavenly. It's derivative, sure, nothing here would make Prydain stand out in a lineup of similar bands and singer Mike Lee oversells his lines in spots, but The Gates of Aramore is a well-crafted and performed album that, if power metal is your thing, offers plenty to get your feet tapping.