Cydonia - Cydonia

Year of Release: 2001
Label: Metal Blade
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 46:59:00

Makes me think of the last track from Crimson Glory's Astronomica release. But no, this is Italian power metal. And a debut at that.

Labyrinth have a lot to answer for because if you take a hammering of their No Limits disc with Fabio "Just Call Me Joe Terry" Lione, mix in some good old fashioned Helloween, Athena's A New Religion, and a vocalist (Dan Keying) with a hint of an accent not too far removed from Andre Matos (ex-Angra, The Shaman, Virgo) and you have Cydonia. I should point out that the disc is mixed by Labyrinth maestro Olaf Thorsen who gives a relatively full sound.

Whilst the first half starts off with up-tempo and exciting Italian-flavoured power metal, half way through the disc it moves into a mid-paced feel that I found a touch disconcerting. It's not each song, as tracks like "Confused Future" show how ballsy a song can be, but the speed in the last few tracks is negated quite a way. Not ballads mind you, but more straight ahead numbers that don't excite as much as the first half. I would suggest a change in track order but Cydonia have put together a concept disc that doesn't involve "swords and sorcery" (like so many Italian bands). Instead, Cydonia focuses on the colonisation of outer planets (Mars). It's quite mysterious and well thought out. Olaf Thorsen contributes some rhythm guitars movements and keys programming that add a certain eloquence that is prevalent in today's power metal.

I highly recommend this disc, but then again, I'm fairly easy to please. Oh, and the artwork is crap. But this is one album that you shouldn't judge by it's cover.

[This review originally appeared November 2002 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]
Tracklisting:
The King/Legend In Time/Land Of Life/Great Soul Of Steel/Last Prayers/Confused Future/Masters Of Stars/Slave To Dream/Eternal Night

Musicians:
Dan Keying - vocals
Steve Sguario - guitar
Lee Crow - keyboards
Trevor O'Neal - bass
Mat Stancioiu - drums

Discography:
Cydonia (2001)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin IT

Added: December 8th 2004
Reviewer: Gary Carson
Score:
Artist website: www.dankeying.supereva.it
Hits: 3058
Language: english