Cardiant 9/10
Verge Record Label: Inverse Records
Released: 31 May 2013
Highlight of the album: Justice Turns Into Revenge Website: http://cardiant.net Reviewer: Lee Walker
Playing catchup on the number of releases that have popped up in Firebrandland over the past month I have stumbled upon the strangely titled ‘Verge’ by Finnish band Cardiant. The album itself starts off with well with opening track ‘Justice Turns Into Revenge’ setting the scene for Cardiant’s breed of music, which manages to sit somewhere in the boundaries between European power metal and symphonic metal with its mix of sweeping choruses, fast paced guitar work and melodic, almost harmonic vocals and will draw comparisons with the likes of Tarot, Nightwish etc etc.
The album itself thunders along well, having an almost concept style feel to it, with elements of fast paced out and out guitar work leading the way, providing the perfect backbone to carry Erik Karhatsu’s European power metal style vocals, occasionally being joined by Outi Jokinen adding an extra dimension to the tracks that she appears on. Overall ‘Verge’ would make a great addition to any power metal fans collection and is set to propel Cardiant into the forefront of that scene.
The Inner Road 8/10
Ascension Record Label: Orbital Productions Released: 31 May 2013 Highlight of the album: A Fleeting Dream Website: http://www.inner-road.com/ Reviewer: Lee Walker
Described as being ‘Instrumental Symphonic Prog Rock’ ‘Ascension’ is just that and is the follow up album to The Inner Road’s 2011 ‘Visions’ release. The opening song “Ascension” really sets the scene for this almost concept style instrumental release, with its deep rich progressive sounds displaying hints of space progers Hawkwind and Steve Hackett, while it envelops you in within its wall of sound, leaving you feeling that you are being transported to another time and place far away from the noise of modern day life.
Overall with ‘Ascension‘ The Inner Road have done a great job with bringing this concept instrumental beast to life, but as with most releases of this nature you will either love or hate it.
Throughout the album itself you get to marvel at the perfectly controlled guitar work, and the cleaver use of keyboards to convey the feelings and emotion that the songs revolve around.
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Firebrand Magazine