Search - Lanfear :: Art Effect

A Power Metal classic

04/25/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The new Lanfear can be described as Power Metal with some progressive influences. Though the musicianship is very strong and the tracks are on a very high technical level, the vocal melodies always remain catchy. Personally, I would say this is by far the best Power Metal release in months. Everybody who likes Metal with great melodies and crunchy guitars should own this baby!!!"

"There's a difference in knowing and walking the path."

D. Knouse | vancouver, washington United States | 10/20/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It has been a while since I have heard a Power Metal album with this level of sophistication with regards to songcraft and overall intelligence. The arrangements are tasteful and articulate, and the talent presented here is consistently remarkable. Actually, I would categorize Lanfear as Progressive Power Metal to be completely accurate. With fluid tempo shifts and multiple instruments adorning each song, "The Art Effect" is impossible to ignore. The production value is stellar and often bombastic with intricate guitar-work and Tobias Althammer's peircing vocals dominating the mix. His vocals frequently remind me of early Geoff Tate (Queensryche), especially his impressive upper register wails; however, "Stigmatized" has a chorus that layers the vocals and is reminiscent of Rob Halford (Judas Priest) at his finest. The folk guitar lead-in on "The Artefact" with falling rain sound effects is at once beautiful and melancholy but at no time does this hint at the progressive band interplay that is to follow. "Heresy" is a sufficiently mysterious intro filled with sound effects, as "V.O.A.T." adds more effects later on during the album and serves both as a place to catch your breath, marvel at what came before, and hold your breath for what is yet to come. The lyrical content is as intellectually stimulating as the music, as in "Conscience Inc." where the lyrics provoke thought while wave after wave of fantastic musicianship carries the listener on a miraculous journey. Stunning! With each spin it has become more and more obvious, layer upon layer of arrangements revealing themselves, that Lanfear are easily among the elite in both the Progressive and Power Metal genres. It is a wonderful thing to find an album saturated with superb songcraft that perfectly balances the flash of excellent musicianship and vocals with intelligent and emotionally resonant songwriting. Not to mention there are plenty of moments that are just plain fun to hear, such as the chorus on "Beneath It All" with its multi-layered/overlapping vocals and double-bass drumming, followed soonafter by a memorable guitar solo. Another example is the stampeding guitar riff present on "The Spell" which will make even most jaded Metal-head thrash and play air-guitar. Lanfear have achieved greatness on "The Art Effect" with a myriad array of emotions and depth of musical passages to explore. Thank you.



1. Heresy

2. Stigmatized

3. Traces of Infinity

4. The Artefact

5. Conscience Inc.

6. Deeper

7. Beneath It All

8. Fortune Lies Within

9. V.O.A.T.

10. The Spell

11. Regression



Final note: Hang out for a couple minutes after the last song for an afterthought of beautiful piano awash with keyboard atmosphere."