Master of Illusion

Power Quest | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 13, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Napalm
• ASIN: B00151A77O
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #200,849 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Power Quest plays melodic power metal, much in the style of the older Freedom Call and Rhapsody with a tiny bit of Dragonforce peeping through. As you might have already understood from the bands that are mentioned above, the entire album is one blast of fast paced, energetic and insanely catchy. Master of Illusion is a record with a classic approach. High vocals, accessible melodies and fast guitar solos.

YEAR: 2008

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Energetic, Uplifting Power Metal That Grows On You With Each Listen, October 27, 2008

By 

Just Bill (Grand Rapids, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Master of Illusion (Audio CD)

I hadn't heard of Power Quest prior to them being booked to play ProgPower USA X next fall. Once they were announced I bought all of their CDs and started with this one, their latest.

I was hooked from the first listen!

Power Quest's sound is sort of like DragonForce lite. Or DragonForce slow. (Which makes sense since keyboardist Steve Williams was in DragonHeart, the band later called DragonForce). It shares some of the same lyrical themes as DragonForce -- and most power-metal bands -- but this is far more listenable than DragonForce. For one thing, the vocals are better. The vocalist, Alessio Garavello, reminds me of Paul Menel, the former singer for British neo-prog band IQ, one of my all-time favorite bands. For another, the riffs are catchy as are the melodies.

Thematically, Power Quest isn't your typical power-metal band. They don't just sing of eternity, bravery, battles, Love (with a capital L), honor, etc. There are actually some serious lyrics (one song -- called "Civilised?" -- is about a 7-year-old boy who was killed in this world gone wrong) amidst songs like "Kings of Eternity," which is a more traditional power-metal song. In other words, don't expect Hammerfall-like lyrics that border on goofy. Power Quest combines the uplifting, anthemic sound of power metal but avoids its cliches.

Most power metal doesn't hold my attention after the first listen, probably because one power-metal band pretty much sounds like another.

But Power Quest is different. These guys create music that stands up to repeated listens. As a matter of fact, I've reached for Master of Illusion over other CDs many times. I've heard this album a dozen times already. And it doesn't grow old.

I wholeheartedly recommend Power Quest's Master of Illusion.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Album of the year, June 22, 2008

By 

mhappy "mhappy8" (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Master of Illusion (Audio CD)

This is clearly the best album from POWER QUEST. Since it started spinning on my stereo, I was absolutely mesmerized and am listening to it since.
Each song sounds different from the next and they are all so catchy, infectious, a hook laden melodic Metal fest that it is difficult to pick a favourite song, but I tried to and they are: "Cemetary Gates" and "Human Machine".
The music is very uplifting and gives out a positive vibrational radiance throughout the whole record.
This album is not restricted to a "Power Metal" tag, it has so much more to offer. For all fans of classic 80 rock as Van Halen or bands like Firewind, Freedom Call, Rhapsody, Stratovarious, etc., basically this album will appeal to any rock fan of any age!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Power Metal with More..., January 4, 2009

By 

Lane R. Miller "Prog Fan LRM" (Fuquay-Varina, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Master of Illusion (Audio CD)

I usually don't get into power metal, but Power Quest is more diverse that most of the speed-for-speed's-sake bands. With Power Quest, the songs come first with some actually having a meaning that cuts deeper than the typical superficial nature of most power metal. The instrumental solos are all excellent, providing purpose and leaning toward a more progressive side.