The Art Effect

Lanfear (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 31, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nightmare Records
• ASIN: B0009K8LEI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #463,481 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Heresy

2. Stigmatized

3. Traces of Infinity

4. The Artefact

5. Conscience inc.

6. Deeper

7. Beneath it all

8. Fortune Lies Within

9. V.O.A.T.

10. The Spell

11. Regression

12. Outliving the Ages

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "There's a difference in knowing and walking the path.", October 20, 2006

By 

D. Knouse (vancouver, washington United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Art Effect (Audio CD)

It has been a while since I have heard a Power Metal album with this level of sophistication with regards to songcraft and overall intelligence. The arrangements are tasteful and articulate, and the talent presented here is consistently remarkable. Actually, I would categorize Lanfear as Progressive Power Metal to be completely accurate. With fluid tempo shifts and multiple instruments adorning each song, "The Art Effect" is impossible to ignore. The production value is stellar and often bombastic with intricate guitar-work and Tobias Althammer's peircing vocals dominating the mix. His vocals frequently remind me of early Geoff Tate (Queensryche), especially his impressive upper register wails; however, "Stigmatized" has a chorus that layers the vocals and is reminiscent of Rob Halford (Judas Priest) at his finest. The folk guitar lead-in on "The Artefact" with falling rain sound effects is at once beautiful and melancholy but at no time does this hint at the progressive band interplay that is to follow. "Heresy" is a sufficiently mysterious intro filled with sound effects, as "V.O.A.T." adds more effects later on during the album and serves both as a place to catch your breath, marvel at what came before, and hold your breath for what is yet to come. The lyrical content is as intellectually stimulating as the music, as in "Conscience Inc." where the lyrics provoke thought while wave after wave of fantastic musicianship carries the listener on a miraculous journey. Stunning! With each spin it has become more and more obvious, layer upon layer of arrangements revealing themselves, that Lanfear are easily among the elite in both the Progressive and Power Metal genres. It is a wonderful thing to find an album saturated with superb songcraft that perfectly balances the flash of excellent musicianship and vocals with intelligent and emotionally resonant songwriting. Not to mention there are plenty of moments that are just plain fun to hear, such as the chorus on "Beneath It All" with its multi-layered/overlapping vocals and double-bass drumming, followed soonafter by a memorable guitar solo. Another example is the stampeding guitar riff present on "The Spell" which will make even most jaded Metal-head thrash and play air-guitar. Lanfear have achieved greatness on "The Art Effect" with a myriad array of emotions and depth of musical passages to explore. Thank you.

1. Heresy
2. Stigmatized
3. Traces of Infinity
4. The Artefact
5. Conscience Inc.
6. Deeper
7. Beneath It All
8. Fortune Lies Within
9. V.O.A.T.
10. The Spell
11. Regression

Final note: Hang out for a couple minutes after the last song for an afterthought of beautiful piano awash with keyboard atmosphere.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Power Metal classic, April 25, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Art Effect (Audio CD)

The new Lanfear can be described as Power Metal with some progressive influences. Though the musicianship is very strong and the tracks are on a very high technical level, the vocal melodies always remain catchy. Personally, I would say this is by far the best Power Metal release in months. Everybody who likes Metal with great melodies and crunchy guitars should own this baby!!!