Independent
2005
1. Plaza De Toros
2. Zero Hour
3. Near Dark
4. Under THe Black Flag
5. Defiler
6. The Endless Days Of A Stranger
7. Onward To The Games
8. The New Queen
9. Gettysburg (The Blue And The Gray)
10. Gift Of The Southern Oracle
This release comes to me very much out of nowhere. Hadn't heard a thing about Twilight Odyssey until one day an email showed up in my inbox courtesy of one PJ Berlinghof (vocalist) requesting airplay on the station. I get these requests often, but frankly speaking the bands usually suck. More often then not I get this sort of thing from garage bands who recorded their album via a mr. microphone with little to no playing ability. Too bad really as it makes sifting through to find the deserving bands that much harder. Twilight Odyssey is definetely one such diamond in the rough.
Twilight Odyssey is just a band/album which kicks you in the face from the start. From the opening riff there is just something unidentifiable which harkens back to the glory of 80s traditional. This really doesn't sound power metal like much of what's coming out now. At the same time the production is clear and the sound doesn't come off as dated. Most of all this just sounds heartfelt I suppose. You can tell when a band is manufactured and this most certaintly isn't. This is a group which seems tight, secure in what they're doing, and performing for the love of the music. There is a definete energy to this debut and it's due in no small part to the powerful delivery of Berlinghof. The riffs are also quite inventive while keeping that sort of classic touch. When listening to this release I don't feel as though it's the typical traditional rehashing. What's accomplished here is really no easy feet.
Sound-wise I'm reminded of a sort of mix of Warlock, Iron Maiden, and Hellion the most. The vocals do bare a bit of resemblance to Doro Pesch in that they're female but done in a very 'metal' sort of way. PJ is definetely not of the atmospheric sort of female school which is most common these days. Mid-ranged, somewhat deep and forceful she comes off more like the classic mold of metal. The music clearly shows it's Maiden influence in the galloping energy, but this is by no means a Maiden clone. Really it just brings the best parts of Maiden into a sound that's their own. I can't say enough good about this release as I find it extremely refreshing to find a band taking traditional and making it their own.
Highlights: Plaza De Toros, The Endless Days Of A Stranger, Under The Black Flag, Zero Hour
Rating - 4.0/5
2. Zero Hour
3. Near Dark
4. Under THe Black Flag
5. Defiler
6. The Endless Days Of A Stranger
7. Onward To The Games
8. The New Queen
9. Gettysburg (The Blue And The Gray)
10. Gift Of The Southern Oracle
This release comes to me very much out of nowhere. Hadn't heard a thing about Twilight Odyssey until one day an email showed up in my inbox courtesy of one PJ Berlinghof (vocalist) requesting airplay on the station. I get these requests often, but frankly speaking the bands usually suck. More often then not I get this sort of thing from garage bands who recorded their album via a mr. microphone with little to no playing ability. Too bad really as it makes sifting through to find the deserving bands that much harder. Twilight Odyssey is definetely one such diamond in the rough.
Twilight Odyssey is just a band/album which kicks you in the face from the start. From the opening riff there is just something unidentifiable which harkens back to the glory of 80s traditional. This really doesn't sound power metal like much of what's coming out now. At the same time the production is clear and the sound doesn't come off as dated. Most of all this just sounds heartfelt I suppose. You can tell when a band is manufactured and this most certaintly isn't. This is a group which seems tight, secure in what they're doing, and performing for the love of the music. There is a definete energy to this debut and it's due in no small part to the powerful delivery of Berlinghof. The riffs are also quite inventive while keeping that sort of classic touch. When listening to this release I don't feel as though it's the typical traditional rehashing. What's accomplished here is really no easy feet.
Sound-wise I'm reminded of a sort of mix of Warlock, Iron Maiden, and Hellion the most. The vocals do bare a bit of resemblance to Doro Pesch in that they're female but done in a very 'metal' sort of way. PJ is definetely not of the atmospheric sort of female school which is most common these days. Mid-ranged, somewhat deep and forceful she comes off more like the classic mold of metal. The music clearly shows it's Maiden influence in the galloping energy, but this is by no means a Maiden clone. Really it just brings the best parts of Maiden into a sound that's their own. I can't say enough good about this release as I find it extremely refreshing to find a band taking traditional and making it their own.
Highlights: Plaza De Toros, The Endless Days Of A Stranger, Under The Black Flag, Zero Hour
Rating - 4.0/5
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