All too often bands falling under the “Power Metal” banner, lack power,  diminishing many of the key elements, such as aggression, that are necessary for metal.  On Sounds of the Forgotten (DeathWave Records) Witherfall take a heavier route, drawing from the mid-1980s. This tie to Thrash even led to singer Joseph Micheal taking the mantle from the late Warrel Dane to front Sanctuary for a reunion tour. 

Witherfall employs a similarly dark and aggressive style of playing to empower their sound. This gives even their soaring vocals, and fetish for guitar solos,  enough momentum to not sound like a Journey tribute band or the opening theme of an anime show. 

The only drawback that comes with the power metal side of what they do is the occasional melodramatic power ballad. But when they stomp into the more metallic shift of dynamics drummer Chris Tsaganeas provides enough of a pound to compensate for the fluff. His playing also proves he is capable of sitting alongside any metal drummer in the game today. Things get darker to the point of almost sonically neighboring King Diamond on “Insidious.” The neo-classical touches to the guitar playing add more weight to this comparison.  One of the album’s best songs as it balances flash with head-banging grit.

The rapid attack of “Ceremony of Fire” could spark Sanctuary comparisons and Micheals’ voice carries a menacing edge, that avoids the pitfalls of power metal, carrying both anger and despair, the heavier emotional currencies for which metal should serve as a catharsis. The next ballad is “When It All Falls Away” There is more of an eighties Sunset Strip feel, but it benefits from some great guitar playing. “Opulent” is more of a guitar showcase. It confirms they can play flamenco guitar in case you were wondering. 

They close the album with the ten-minute “What Have You Done.” If all ten minutes of the song were a power ballad, it might have been a deal breaker. The vocals do have a more melodic and flowing pattern to the verses. The chorus is as soaring as you might expect a band like this to go for – almost operatic in the manner this is approached. But then Witherfall get their feet under the song and pay off the flowery emotional excess with the needed chugs and gallops. 

The adventurous nature of the closer might not be as well charted out as, say, Iron Maiden when they embark on lengthy excursions, but it works well enough for what they are going for here. 

If the epic nature of grandiose fantasy properly-captured in a manner that not only displays the excellence of virtuosic ability but is also convincingly heavy is for you, then this album is worth your time. It carries all the larger-than imagery that makes you want to break out the twenty-sided dice for a savings throw while still packing a punch. 

Witherfall are not something to be written off as a guilty pleasure, but a serious Heavy Metal proposition.

Buy the album here:
https://www.witherfall.com/

8 / 10
WIL CIFER