New York metal act Grey Skies Fallen have been around since 1997, and over the years have released a slew of CDs & EPs, plus they've gone through a myriad of line-up changes. Here we are in early 2014 and the band have a new roster and a new album for us, titled The Many Sides of Truth. Comprised now of Rick Habeeb (Guitar, Vocals), Joe Sanci (Guitar), Craig Rossi (Keys), Tom Anderer (Bass), and Sal Gregory (Drums), Grey Skies Fallen show off a form of metal on this latest release that combines doom, death, black, prog, and viking styles for a rather intriguing listen.
Clean & harsh vocals trade off throughout most of these songs, very effectively done on a song such as "Of the Ancients", with its epic, doom laden guitar riffs and ominous keyboards, the melodic vocal passages soaring against growling death/black metal lines. "End of My Rope" is pulsating prog-metal, with chugging riffs, churning rhythms, and insistent keys playing off two styles of extreme vocals, the middle section featuring a crushing riff that then gives way to some Opeth styled atmospheric sections. The haunting, near 10-minute "Ritual of the Exciter" again reminds of Opeth, with perhaps a little Enslaved, as dreamy clean vocals float over beds of sumptuous keyboards and plodding power chords, before raging black metal riffing & double bass kicks turn the song into a furious monster, with leather lunged power metal vocal wails as well as harsh black metal styled screams telling the tale. "The Flame" is a kick ass viking/pagan metal barn burner, and wouldn't sound out of place on any Amon Amarth or Enslaved album, and is perhaps the heaviest song here. In between some of the longer tracks are gentle, atmospheric instrumentals, which bridge the gap between the heavier pieces quite nicely.
I have to say, I'm rather impressed by this latest full length from Grey Skies Fallen. The cover artwork is by the always busy Travis Smith, and adds a certain mystique to this rather mysterious yet highly enjoyable album. Some might say that the band mixes too many styles into their music, but I think it works in their favor, keeping the listener guessing at all times as to what will come next. If you like progressive extreme metal that offers plenty of variety, you'd be well advised to check this album out.
See more about this release on our recent YouTube show!
Track Listing
1. Ritual of the Exciter
2. Unroot Transparent Beeing
3. The Flame
4. Of the Ancients
5. Isolation Point
6. End of My Rope
7. Winter Hand
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