Veteran Italian progressive metal act Eldritch have had a pretty tumultuous career up to this point, with multiple line-up and label changes over the years, not to mention stylistic variations that have probably resulted in the band not really getting the acclaim they have deserved. After all, Eldritch have fairly consistently delivered thrashy progressive metal for almost 20 years now, and their latest Gaia's Legacy is no exception.
Gaia's Legacy, the bands first studio release in about 5 years, sees them on Scarlet Records, and is a concept album about the perils of global warming and the horrific results, including Hurrican Katrina and other disasters. If you are familiar with the music of Eldritch, you can expect many of the same characteristics, like the soaring high pitched vocals, thunderous riffs, symphonic keyboards, and rock solid rhythms. Lead vocalist Terrence Holler is in fine form throughout, really shining on the dramatic ballad "Mother Earth", the aggressive power/prog metal juggernaut "Everything's Burning", and the powerful "Our Land", and it becomes more than obvious that he's a singer that often gets forgotten when you talk about some of the most talented vocalists in the genre. There is no shortage of inventive riffing, blazing guitar & keyboard solos, and wild interplay at every avenue on Gaia's Legacy, and while the CD certainly won't win any awards for being the most groundbreaking progressive metal release you've heard in recent memory, this is still extremely solid and enjoyable music.
Yeah, the multitude of Al Gore voiceovers can be annoying, but it's central to the theme of the album. Eldritch have put together a really good one here, and it's a shame I'm only just getting to this one now as it would have easily made my Best of 2011 list.
Track Listing
1. Gaia's Anger
2. Deviation
3. Our Land
4. Vortex Of Disaster
5. Mother Earth
6. Everything's Burning
7. Thinning Out
8. Like A Child
9. Signs
10. Thoughts Of Grey
11. Thirst In Our Hands (Gaias Lament)
12. Through Different Eyes (Fates Warning Cover)
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