Minotauro: Master of the Sea
The cardboard sleeve of a promo CD brings me back to my college radio days. Minotauro's Master of the Sea has a winged skeletal statue draped in robes emerging from the sea, an epic scene indeed.
The bands' website details their relationship with a sympony and conducter and upon hearing the opening of "The Idol" the grandiose nature of the music is revealed. Double bass drums begin while the symphony and choral sounds continue. Vocalist Rudy Berginc has a very powerful vibrato that reminds me of Bruce Dickinson and Geoff Tate and his voice fits perfectly with the powerful metal of track one.
"Master of the Sea" speeds things up and the keyboards of Ales Lavric stand out throughout the song. The speed-metal verses fly by and power-metal choruses with harmonized vocals are very anthemic. No tempo is unavailable as many are used by the end of the song.
A symponic metal feel is capured in track three. The classical composition skills of Ales Lavric are used to great benefit and at 2:23 a melodic and rhythmic section is featured. Harpsichord sounds and more rhythmic sections bring us to guitar solos and a recap of the previous sections.
The promise fades on tracks four and five, a ballad and plodding rocker. I should mention the retro quality of Minotauro at this point; breaking new heavy metal ground they are not. The production quality is above average and the choral (synth?) and symphony sounds brighten the picture but Master of the Sea could have been written a few decades ago.
"The Devil's Sign" opens up with a string quartet and busts into a mid-tempo gallop under which the symphony continues. The chorus with layered vocals is a nice touch. At just under seven minutes, this is the longest song on the disc and the mid-point piano and symphony interlude is something that could happen more often. This is easily one of the best tracks.
Minotauro's songwriting could grow and benefit from more interaction with the symphony but this release feels too retro for this reviewer.
Track Listing
1. The Idol
2. Master of the Sea
3. The Day of Redemption
4. Another Day
5. Never Loose Your Faith
6. This is What We Need
7. The Taste of Freedom
8. Devil's Sign
Added: February 2nd 2014
Reviewer: Ryan Good
Score:  
Related Link: Band Facebook Page
Hits: 1996
Language: english
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