The Metal Crypt on Facebook  The Metal Crypt's YouTube Channel
Review: Tanagra - None of This is Real
Tanagra
tanagraband.bandcamp.com
None of This is Real

Label: Independent
Year released: 2015
Duration: 57:00
Tracks: 8
Genre: Power Metal

Rating:
3.75/5


Review online: August 7, 2015
Reviewed by: Bruno Medeiros
Readers' Rating
How do you rate this release?

Rated 3.67/5 (73.33%) (3 Votes)
Review

The USPM scene has always been flooded with good bands, from Liege Lord and Vicious Rumors back in the day to solid newer acts such as Last Bastion, Noble Beast and Visigoth. Formed in 2010, Tanagra is no exception, following in the footsteps of the genre while also combining elements of European Power Metal and a little bit of Epic Heavy Metal, and this year the band displayed their debut with None of This is Real.

The album starts strong with "The Undying Light", offering a mid-paced approach and filled with cool riffs. "Tyranny of Time" and "Eliana" serves as worthy follow-ups, showcasing the dexterity of Steven Sodeberg and Josh Kay as axemen, and other songs like the opuses "Antietam" and "The Path to Talmor" makes the experience a pleasant one. Throughout the course of the 8 tracks we can see that Tanagra have attempted to capture an epic essence to their work, although not leaving behind their skills as prolific musicians, resulting in an interesting – but at times too over the top – mix of sounds with inspired riffing. A few improvements need to be made, such as higher quality production (which is actually ok if we take in consideration that the album is an independent release), better distribution of the length of the songs (8 minutes is too much for a song like "10:04 PM") and perhaps a more energetic approach for Tom Socia's vocal lines, whose voice lacks punch in some passages, and at times even sounds a bit monotone. All of this can be easily remedied, though, with a few adjustments here and there.

All in all, Tanagra is definitely in the right path to become a respected act in the fantasy-themed Power Metal genre, delivering a quality first attempt which should please all Power Metal enthusiasts and reach the hearts of many more metalheads in the near future.

More about Tanagra...
Review: Meridiem (reviewed by MetalMike)
Click below for more reviews
Latest 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Various Books/Zines 



The Metal Crypt - Crushing Posers Since 1999
Copyright  © 1999-2024, Michel Renaud / The Metal Crypt.  All Rights Reserved.