CHRONOSFEAR
“The Astral Gates Pt. 1 – A Secret Revealed”
Album Review by Iron Mathew

9.5/10

Chronosfear are a symphonic power metal band from Italy originally formed in 2003 by drummer Michele Olmi as Wings Of Destiny, a covers band playing songs from many of the European power metal bands. Wishing to play his own material, Michele re-founded the band as Chronosfear, and released the four song, self titled E.P. in 2013. The bands debut full length album ‘Chronosfear’ was released in 2018, with sophomore album ‘The Astral Gates Pt. 1 – A Secret Revealed’ emerging in 2022.

‘The Astral Gates Pt. 1 – A Secret Revealed’ – which from now on shall be referred to as just ‘The Astral Gates Pt. 1’ – is the first part of a two album concept, and weighs in with twelve songs over a fifty one minute run time. The album gets underway with the prologue ‘2101: Ruins Of Our World’, an atmospheric and anticipation filled two minute journey, building to a crescendo for ‘Faithless Times’ – storming off at high velocity. And wha…! Growled harsh vocals…! A few lines mixed with the bands (normal) clean vocal style, ‘Faithless Time’ is a breathless gallop. Maintaining the energy and oomph of the opening song, ‘For A New Tomorrow’ romps forward with a bit more bite, yet displaying a much more melodic edge. The band pulling out all the stops for the initial aural attack. And what an attack! Full on and forceful, the opening two songs have been a barrage of beauty.

The title song ‘The Astral Gates’ drops a couple of gears, taking on a more majestic feel, yet powering on with all the trademarks of symphonic power metal. The keyboards play a key role in the Chronosfear signature sound, and here they’re very prominent, adding atmosphere and texture at every level. And I know we’re only three songs in to the first part of a two-parter, but already I’m looking forward to part two! This is really enthralling, not to mention infectious and catchy. Pace, oomph, and energy levels all increase for ‘Under This Bleeding Sky’ – the fastest song heard so far. Displaying everything fantastic about the power metal sound, Chronosfear scorch the Earth as they blaze past in an err, blaze of glory. This album is just getting better and better.

‘Paralyzed (Interlude I)’ is an eerie one minute passage that sets a scene of fear and uncertain agitation, before ‘Beyond’ launches forth with a bombastic, cinematic, and theatric resonance – crushing all feelings of fear, sending listeners on a journey of warmth and comfort. ‘Beyond’ has an emphatic edge, short bursts of choir chanting, and a reassuring feeling that it can keep you safe from whatever terrors are out there. ‘Code Red (Interlude II)’ is a one minute crescendo of highly dramatic tension, building to a climactic finish – and then whoosh! ‘Fragments’ thunders in and moves forward at a mid tempo, high energy pace. The tall and proud, highly majestic feeling from earlier is returned to the fore, along with prominent female vocals acting as a duet – what a staggering dimension to not only the bands sound, but the make-up of the album and the conceptual story telling. Compelling is an understatement.

Have you ever heard story telling of this stature before! Maybe, but this one has so much more – it has a future, it has a part two! But while we wait for the second part of this epic tale, we still have three songs remaining – the first of which, ‘Eyes Of The Wolf’ maintains the albums dynamic symphonic power metal march. A march that is majestic and lively, keeping the listener entertained and intrigued. And at seven minutes in length, ‘The Fortress Tower’ is by far and away the longest song on offer, steaming ahead at a phenomenal pace. Taking over as the fastest song on the album ‘The Fortress Tower’, despite its speed, is highly melodic and so fucking catchy. Unbelievable if I hadn’t heard it first hand, err shouldn’t that be heard first ear! Bringing the story’s first part to a close, is the mellow balladry of ‘The World I Left Behind’ – a lighters in the air moment for sure. The atmosphere is electrifying though, the air of tension palpable, Chronosfear bringing the album to a close with a cliff-hanger ending, leaving listeners in total suspense, anxious for part two.

Overall, a compelling journey of superb symphonic power metal, highly dramatic, full of energy, and overly infectious.

TRACKLIST

2101: Ruins Of Our World (Prologue)
Faithless Times
For A New Tomorrow
The Astral Gates
Under This Bleeding Sky
Paralyzed (Interlude I)
Beyond
Code Red (Interlude II)
Fragments
Eyes Of The Wolf
The Fortress Tower
The World I Left Behind

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