MIND KEY - PULSE FOR A GRAVEHEART - 2009

Wondering if an album is melodic hard rock/metal or melodic progressive metal and not being able to make up my mind till the end of it, is the best way to start my day. I think that they approach both genres, as the compositions are based on melodic hard rock forms and melodic power metal as well, however they are very diverse and keep changing during the songs. Well, I don’t really think that the music genre matters anyway when you actually feel that 10 songs are just not enough and you want some more! It’s the second album for the Italians, with Aurelio Fierro on vocals, replacing their initial frontman, Mark Basile, who left the band just before the album was recorded. Mind Key sound like a mixture of Dream Theater, Symphony X, Pain of Salvation –in the “dark” parts- and Evergrey. Concerning Aurelio’s voice, it’s melodic like Coverdale’s, powerful like Dio’s, warm and colourful like Jorn’s and passionate like Englund’s (Evergrey, and as it is already said, they have some passages that remind of them actually) who duets with Elio Fierro on the song “Graveheart” and he definitely makes it very beautiful with his mesmerizing voice. There are also guest appearances from Derek Sherinian (DREAM THEATER, ALICE COOPER) on "Citizen of Greed" and Reb Beach (WHITESNAKE, WINGER) on "Now Until Forever". Dennis Ward (PINK CREAM 69, ANGRA, KROKUS, PLACE VENDOME) is behind the mixing and the mastering and the result is superb.
Metalzone.gr