AFTERTIME
“Arcane Horizons”
Album Review by Iron Mathew

10/10
11/10

AferTime are a symphonic metal band from the USA formed in 2011, releasing their debut album ‘The Farthest Shore’ in 2020, and sophomore album ‘Arcane Horizons’ in 2024.

The bands sound is an epic blend of symphonic metal and larger than life orchestral arrangements, with everything on offer on the new album taking majesty and elegance to a whole new level – the album boasting an incredible thirteen songs across an even more incredible sixty five minute run time! That’s over an hour of metal akin to the likes of Moonlight Haze, Leaves’ Eyes, Catalyst Crime, and Ad Infinitum, ‘Arcane Horizons’ a mind blowing barrage of breath taking beauty! The band open their new album with the two minute tension fuelled intro ‘Ultra Terram’, building an unbearable level of anticipation…

…as the album strides into life with the elegant title song ‘Arcane Horizons’. And a majestic nature so beautiful it’s gonna take your breath away, the soaring vocals of lead singer Sarah Wolf angelic and faultless. But what’s that? Harsh male vocals! Sure is, the bands guitarist Brad Sturgis chiming in with some guttural vocals – AfterTime impressing the hell outta me after just half a song! The bands line-up consists of guitarist Chris Radke, bassist Lucas Weide and drummer AJ Blakesley alongside Sturgis and Wolf (who appeared as a guest vocalist on Bare Infinity’s 2017 album ‘The Butterfly Raiser’). ‘Arcane Horizons’ (the album) marches on with majestic prowess courtesy of the faster paced ‘Sons Of Fenrir’ – and I’m just gonna get this off my chest right here and now, I’m not gonna apologise for how many times I’m liable to use the words “majestic” and “elegant” during my review. The symphonic power metal swagger of ‘Sons Of Fenrir’ is bold, bright and bombastic, the albums opening brace two of the most elegant and majestic symphonic metal songs I’ve heard this year. And soaring higher than both eagles and angels, ‘Armored Heart’ is a glorious, foot tappingly addictive stroll, AfterTime adopting a melodious mid tempo swagger. To say my mind has been blown wide open by the (albums) first three songs is probably the biggest understatement of the year, the decade even – the American five-piece delivering head turning, jaw dropping symphonic metal.

‘Arcane Horizons’ (the album) has been a mouth-watering listen so far, and what’s not to say it won’t be right up to the very final minute! Absolutely nothing that’s what – the band entering the realm of symphonic power metal balladry with ‘Of Lust And Rust’. And a vocal performance more angelic than heard previously, the range of singer Wolf phenomenally wide – wider than the Grand Canyon that’s for sure! And fuck me! ‘Amongst The Trees’ explodes into life at over a hundred fucking miles an hour, the seductive, sensual nature of the album up to this point a mere memory as blistering pace lights up ‘Arcane Horizons’ (the album) – AfterTime exhibiting a progressive leaning as ‘Amongst The Trees’ strides on. So that would make the American outfit a symphonic progressive power metal band – AfterTime not content to just sit within the symphonic metal realm! A mellow and serene atmosphere descends upon the album as ‘Goddess Of Dark Horizons’ strolls into sight, the epic and glory nature of metal coming to the fore more now than at any other time! The band beef up ‘Goddess Of Dark Horizons’, moving it away from balladry into foot stomping territory, not ground shuddering territory, a more majestic stomp that sees the band striding tall and very proud.

And at only half way through ‘Arcane Horizons’ (the album), have AfterTime surged into contention for the Album Of The Year title? Quite possibly so, every song heard so far infectious and mesmerising to the max – ‘Verdant Siren’ the next mind blowing barrage of majesty and elegance. And as ‘Verdant Siren’ progresses, AfterTime swing from power balladry to a hymn-like swagger to an energy driven mid tempo power metal march! It seems like the band want to encompass a myriad of metal styles within their soundscape, opening up their music to a very wide audience – an audience that’s enjoying top shelf epic and atmospheric symphonic progressive power metal! I tell ya readers, I’m gonna have to consult a Thesaurus soon for more words to describe the bands music – I’m running out! The album glides on at pace with ‘Druid’s Dance’, the iconic gallop of traditional heavy metal filling the air! The energy and drive here is phenomenal, AfterTime now attracting fans of old school metal! ‘Arcane Horizons’ (the album) began terrifically, and has simply gotten better and better, the band turning in a superb performance – ‘Lament d’Morgan’ a mellow yet bold swagger displaying immense hymn-like balladry! Not to mention the haunting, spine tingling atmosphere that’s gonna raise the hairs on the back of everyone’s neck to new heights! Goosebumps too!

‘Under A Midnight Sun’ is a three minute joyful instrumental that meanders this way and that, even bringing a touch of folk metal to the fore! So that now makes AfterTime an epic and atmospheric symphonic progressive power come folk come traditional heavy metal band! Yep, that ’bout covers it! And now for the albums centrepiece, an eleven minute arrangement in three parts – (1) ‘A Battlefield Of Ashes’, (2) ‘Through The Land Of Mist’, (3) ‘Diving The Brave’ – collectively titled ‘A Prophecy Of Realms’. Now everything the band have in their locker is on show here, ‘A Prophecy Of Realms’ is majestic, elegant, and a wonderfully crafted piece of music – just sit back, close your eyes and let the band take you on a fantastical journey! And as with every other album I’ve ever listened to – it has to come to an end! But ‘Arcane Horizons’ (the album) is one of those spectacular albums you’ll wanna listen to time and time again, but just before you do so, there’s one final song on offer – ‘By The Tavern’s Light’ a jovial, folk metal swagger that shoots a party feel outta the speakers to hit you right between the eyes! What a glorious bouncy finish to a stunning album.

Overall, a superb sixty-five minutes of sensational symphonic power metal, featuring a tonne of grandeur, majesty and elegance.

TRACKLIST

Ultra Terrum
Arcane Horizons
Sons Of Fenrir
Armored Heart
Of Lust And Rust
Amongst The Trees
Goddess Of Dark Horizons
Verdant Siren
Druid’s Dance
Lament d’Morgan
Under A Midnight Sun
A Prophecy Of Realms
               (1) A Battlefield Of Ashes
               (2) Through The Land Of Mist
               (3) Diving The Brave
By The Tavern’s Light

https://www.aftertimeofficial.com/
https://www.facebook.com/AfterTimeBand/

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