Anyone remember the Swedish power/progressive metal band Hollow from the late 90's? The band released these two gems on Nuclear Blast back in 1998 & 1999, then quickly vanished from the scene. Thankfully Metal Mind Productions has reissued and remastered these two solid offerings and housed them in a 2 CD digipack for all genre fans who perhaps missed these the first time around.
First thing you notice is that lead vocalist/guitarist Andreas Stoltz sounds a lot like Geoff Tate or Midnight, but to be fair that's where the Queensryche and Crimson Glory comparisons end. Hollow had a sound that was pretty unique, littered with super crunchy riffing from Stoltz and Marcus Bigren, flashy, often times complex lead solos, tight rhythms, and melodic, memorable songs. There are plenty of sizzling tunes sprinkled throughout these two releases, such as the progressive "Rain", the super charged metal of "Cogito", the Rush & Dream Theater influenced "Secluded Dreams", or the highly addicting metal anthems "Can You Hear Me?", "Lies", and "Wounds". Hard to pick a favorite between the two albums, as both are very strong and very similar as far as containing quality material. Modern Catherdral is probably the more 'power metal' of the two and slightly more accessible, while Architect of the Mind might be the more proggy. Both go hand in hand though and are well worth owning for fans of the melodic metal genre.
As always, Metal Mind has done a great job on the remaster treatment and packaging here. If you like catchy power/progressive metal with CRUNCHY guitar, you've come to the right place.
Track Listing
CD 1 – "Architect of the Mind"
1. Transcending Sorrow
2. Cogito
3. Rain
4. Shadow God
5. Secluded Dreams
6. Walls of Confusion
7. Binary Creed
8. Deified
9. Alone In Darkness
10. Shutdown
11. Father
CD 2 – "Modern Cathedral"
1. Trademark
2. Can You Hear Me?
3. Speak To Me
4. Bagatell
5. Crusaders
6. Lies
7. Wounds
8. In Your Arms
9. Whispers
10. Hold Your Banners High
11. What I Can Be
12. Waiting
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