Nightmare - Cosmovision


Year of Release: 2001
Label: Napalm Records
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 51:25:00

France! Wine. Women. Song. The last one being as important as the other two and the one we will concentrate on here. Nightmare are from France and, along with bands like Headline and Heavenly, are powering through the European metal world like never before. But the bizarre thing - they have been around since 1979! And I had never heard of them before. The band actually released two discs in the 80s and their previous release (unheard of by me) was called Live Deliverance (a double live CD). An EP released in 1999 makes up the five, including this stunning new album. Cosmovision, a semi-conceptual release, recreates the mystical world of South America with the relationship between the Inca Empire and spiritual/space encounters.

With Cosmovision, Nightmare reminds me of one band and one band only - Stigmata IV from Austria (who released Solum Mente Infirmis & The Court Of Eternity). In fact, if someone played me this disc without prior knowledge whatsoever of Nightmare then I would have said this was Stigmata IV's new album. But it isn't! In fact, ex-drummer-turned-vocalist Jo Amore is a dead ringer for Ritchie Krenmaier (vocalist for Stigmata IV or whatever incarnation they are in now). A cross between Fabio Lione on some of his heavier songs ("Holy Thunderforce" from Rhapsody and "Apocalypse" from Athena) and Jon Oliva (Savatage). Many of the songs show off Jo's versatile range even though he sings in a lower range than most power metal vocalists. Not to dissimilar to Hansi Kursch (Blind Guardian).

Some of the musical elements remind me heavily of Kamelot, but it is definitely not as clean. But, it is just as melodic, with heaps of symphonic touches that round off the CD perfectly. It has a Therion flavour. At times, Nightmare's blistering speed is tempered with Jo's amazingly powerful voice that doesn't need to rise high to hit the right note. These boys definitely know what they are doing. The guitars, performed by long time members Nicolas De Dominicis and Jeannot Strippoli, are heavy and groove-oriented, and faster than a band like Mezarkabul. All of the songs have a sense of power and structure, it's a strength that is often heard in metal, a kind of balls to the wall type arrogance. Check out tracks like "Necropolis" for the choir/symphonic elements and galloping music (hello Stratovarius!) and "Behold The Nighttime" for sheer arrogance. Trivia freaks - Patrick Rondat guests on a song ("Spirit Of The Sunset") and the cosmic cover has been produced by Jean-Pascal Fournier (Edguy, Immortal, Avantasia).

Label wise, Napalm Records signing Nightmare is like Music for Nations signing Lost Horizon. Both labels have released what I consider to be two of the strongest power metal releases of the year 2001. And what surprises they have been. This has one of my highest recommendations for power metal this year due to their "different" power metal approach.

[This review originally appeared November 2002 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]


Tracklisting:
Roads To Nazca (Intro) / Cosmovision / Corridors Of Knowledge / Spirits Of The Sunset / The Church / Behold The Nighttime / Necropolis / The Cemetary Road / Kill For The New Messiah / The Spiral Of Madness / Last Flight To Sirius / Riddle In The Ocean

Musicians:
Jo Amore - vocals
David Amore - drums and vocals
Yves Campion - bass and vocals
Nicko De Dominicis - guitar and vocals
Jeannot Strippoli - guitars

Guests:

Patrick Rondat - guitars (4)

Discography:
Waiting For The Twilight (1984/1999)
Power Of The Universe (1985/1999)
Astral Deliverance (1999, rec. 1994)
Live Deliverance (2000)
Cosmovision (2001)
Silent Room (2003)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin FR

Added: January 17th 2005
Reviewer: Gary Carson
Score:
Artist website: www.nightmaremusic.com
Hits: 2569
Language: english

  

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