Customer Reviews

Master of Illusion

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

"Power Quest" is a UK-based power metal band formed in 2001 and "Master of illusion is their fourth, and latest to date studio album originally released in 2008. "Power Quest" is led by former "Dragonforce" keyboardist Steve Williams also featuring singer Alessio Garavello, guitarist Andrea Matongelli, bassist Steve Scott and drummer Francesco Tresca.

Although lyrically similar to "Dragonforce", "Power Quest" is considerably keyboard driven power metal, never excluding thick rhythm guitar, six-string solos and melodic leads; In addition the songwriting and performance does not deviate for the biggest part from the established euro-power metal sound. Despite its title and evil-like cover artwork, this fifth studio effort of "Power Quest" delivers positive messages with ideals such as hope and progress being their main praises.The band relies on rather fast tempos which never undermine the choruses and overall vocal peroformance in general, which is a definite plus for the album, keeping the balance.

Songs like "Kings of Eternity" and "The Vigil" have "Dragonforce" written all over them, although nowhere as flamboyantly performed. On the contrary songs like save the world" and "Hearts and voice" have a more hard rocking edge to them granting songwriting variety to the band, a crucial ement for any quality power metal album, one could theorize. Overall a quality release in the Euro-power genre and another step ahead for the band.

I like Power Quest's melodic ,fast and articulated tipe of metal. I believe this album is their fifth, and have listen to another one, Magic never dies, also very good. It reminds me of and early Stratovarius, but with simpler compositions. The guitar work is very good and the singer's voice adds the finishing touch nicely. In over all worth the purchase, recommended.