Call me overzealous, but I think Lance King just might be in the same league as Jorn Lande. Both journeyman vocalists have a knack for making projects in which they are involved powerful and memorable sonic experiences. Pyramaze, the new Danish/American outfit that connects Minnesota- based King with Wuthering Heights drummer Morten Gade, is a perfect example. Although the nine songs on Pyramaze's debut album, Melancholy Beast, resound with speedy and melodic power-metal riffs and progressive overtones, the soaring and distinct voice of King (whose credits include Empire, Mattsson and Balance of Power) rings louder than some of the music and infuses added depth and fluidity into songs like "The Journey," "Legend," "Mighty Abyss" and the title track to sound like a cross-pollination of James LaBrie, Geoff Tate and Bruce Dickinson -- but with even greater range. Guitarist Michael Kammeyer wrote all of the lyrics and music but allowed King to contribute to the vocal melodies, ensuring that each line is sung to perfection. Melancholy Beast isn't as good as the three Balance of Power albums King sung, but Pyramaze's debut would still rate four stars; with him, it inches closer to five.
Track Listing:
1) Sleepy Hollow
2) Forsaken Kingdom
3) Melancholy Beast
4) The Journey
5) Until We Fade Away
6) Legend
7) Mighty Abyss
8) The Nature of Triumph
9) Power of Imagination
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