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Pyramaze - Melancholy Beast

Pyramaze - Melancholy Beast
Released: 2004
Label: Nothing To Say (NTS)
Cat. No.:
Total Time: 50:48

Reviewed by: Marcel Haster, June 2004
If you visit the website of the Danish Metal Management Agency, and click on the "bands" link, you'd be surprised to see how many great metal bands there are in Denmark! One of these bands has just released its debut album. This band was founded a few years ago by guitarist Michael Kammeyer, who wrote the material and then set out to find the musicians to form his band with. He found them and together they formed Pyramaze and their debut album is called Melancholy Beast.

I think Kammeyer can be very happy and very proud, as Melancholy Beast is an excellent debut album, with rock solid melodic power metal and it kept my attention. With the amount of metal albums being released nowadays, that is not always an easy task, but Kammeyer and consorts have released a strong album, in my opinion. Besides the material, the line up is the second part in this strong album: Morten Sørensen (drums) and Niels Kvist (bass), both local musicians, form the tight and steady rhythm section. The line up is completed with two "foreigners": Jonah Weingarten, providing the keys, or the gravy of the songs and Lance King (Balance of Power, Mattsson, King's Machine), not exactly an unknown vocalist, but the perfect voice for Pyramaze.

I think my favourite song of the album is "Legend," as I love how it's built up, and the vocals, from slightly high to low (like the singer of the Crash Test Dummies), but also the tasty guitar lines. "The Nature Of Triumph" shows what the keys can add to the music, as this short instrumental is nothing but keys. Hopefully with the next album Jonah Weingarten will get some more room in the songs, as here the songs are mainly drum/guitar dominated. Closing song "Power Of Imagination" is also among my fav songs, it has a an epic touch to it and leaves you with e pleasant taste in your ears.

The production is outstanding, done by Jacob Hansen (Manticora, Ancient) and the artwork is also really cool and fitting for the album. No doubt we will hear much more of these guys. Intromental made a very good judgement call in signing these guys and I'm glad the French NTS label released Melancholy Beast. Excellent debut album and I can only say: highly recommended!

Similar bands: Iced Earth

PPO Rating: 8/10

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

More about Melancholy Beast:

Track Listing: Sleepy Hollow / Forsaken Kingdom / Melancholy Beast / The Journey / Until We Fade Away / Legend / Mighty Abyss / The Nature Of Triumph / Power Of Imagination

Musicians:
Michael Kammeyer - guitars
Lance King - vocals
Morten Sørensen - drums
Niels Kvist - bass
Jonah Weingarten – keys

Contact:

Website: www.pyramaze.com/
Note: will open new browser window

Discography

Melancholy Beast (2004)

	Pyramaze - Melancholy Beast
	Released: 2004 Label: Nothing To Say (NTS) Cat. No.: Total Time: 50:48
	Reviewed by: Marcel Haster, June 2004 If you visit the website of the Danish Metal Management Agency, and click on the "bands" link, you'd be surprised to see how many great metal bands there are in Denmark! One of these bands has just released its debut album. This band was founded a few years ago by guitarist Michael Kammeyer, who wrote the material and then set out to find the musicians to form his band with. He found them and together they formed Pyramaze and their debut album is called Melancholy Beast. I think Kammeyer can be very happy and very proud, as Melancholy Beast is an excellent debut album, with rock solid melodic power metal and it kept my attention. With the amount of metal albums being released nowadays, that is not always an easy task, but Kammeyer and consorts have released a strong album, in my opinion. Besides the material, the line up is the second part in this strong album: Morten Sørensen (drums) and Niels Kvist (bass), both local musicians, form the tight and steady rhythm section. The line up is completed with two "foreigners": Jonah Weingarten, providing the keys, or the gravy of the songs and Lance King (Balance of Power, Mattsson, King's Machine), not exactly an unknown vocalist, but the perfect voice for Pyramaze. I think my favourite song of the album is "Legend," as I love how it's built up, and the vocals, from slightly high to low (like the singer of the Crash Test Dummies), but also the tasty guitar lines. "The Nature Of Triumph" shows what the keys can add to the music, as this short instrumental is nothing but keys. Hopefully with the next album Jonah Weingarten will get some more room in the songs, as here the songs are mainly drum/guitar dominated. Closing song "Power Of Imagination" is also among my fav songs, it has a an epic touch to it and leaves you with e pleasant taste in your ears. The production is outstanding, done by Jacob Hansen (Manticora, Ancient) and the artwork is also really cool and fitting for the album. No doubt we will hear much more of these guys. Intromental made a very good judgement call in signing these guys and I'm glad the French NTS label released Melancholy Beast. Excellent debut album and I can only say: highly recommended! Similar bands: Iced Earth PPO Rating: 8/10 [This review originally appeared at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.] More about Melancholy Beast: Track Listing: Sleepy Hollow / Forsaken Kingdom / Melancholy Beast / The Journey / Until We Fade Away / Legend / Mighty Abyss / The Nature Of Triumph / Power Of Imagination Musicians: Michael Kammeyer - guitars Lance King - vocals Morten Sørensen - drums Niels Kvist - bass Jonah Weingarten – keys Contact: Website: www.pyramaze.com/ Note: will open new browser window Discography Melancholy Beast (2004)