Customer Reviews

Spectral

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Since buying 'Timeless Departure' and 'Mindless Revolution', I awaited the release of Skyfire's newest album 'Spectral'. And the wait was well worth it!
I kind of had an idea as to what to expect on this album, since I was able to download a few two-minute samples from various websites, but those samples didn't do me justice for what I was in for. This album is wonderful, something new and exciting. It gave me the feeling of when I first listened to Children of Bodom's 'Follow The Reaper'; just amazing.
To be honest, I'd recommend this album before any other Skyfire albums. Yes, they're all great albums, but I think this one will grab your attention a bit quicker, leaving you no other choice but to buy Skyfire's previous albums.

Stay Heavy!

Now this is what melodic death is all about. The guitar riffs are awesome and heavy.. Drumming is perfect.. The growls are even great in my opinion.. Oh and the keyboard is amazing! It kind of reminds me of Childrem of Bodem, except with better vocals. This cd will not leave my player for quite some time.

I never knew a metal band could use keyboards so well to not only accompany, but create a great atmospheric sound. The keyboards do not make the album however, as the guitar riffs, pounding drums, and black metal screaming vocals are combined beautifully to create a familiar yet unique sound to delight the ears.

One of the cool things about Skyfire is their ability to write dark moody lyrics without doing the typical singing about vampires in transylvania, mutilating dead bodies, going to war for the ancient gods, or any wierd typical anger towards humanity. The battles they sing about are in the mind, the lyrics more psychological than mystical, more easy to relate to than stories of dragons and wizards.

Everything that defines a good metal band is present on this album: thrashing guitar riffs, pounding double-bass drum work, cool changes in time signatures, melodic guitar solos, loud yelling vocals, and of course the beautiful keyboards. This album is not generic, and will not bore you like some metal albums can. If you like metal, death metal, black metal, or even progressive metal then Skyfire will surely be within your realm of musical taste.

RECOMMENDATION: If you want to purchase this album then check out E...B...A...Y for cheaper copies. ;)

Skyfire, how does one explain how they sound? It's a mix of classic death metal aggression, with the grace of Swedish Melodic metal, with a brush of Finnish keyboard melody. While their first two albums were excellent listens, this one puts them to shame. Better production, more precise playing, and fantastic lyrics. From beginning to end, there is not one song you will want to skip over on this album. If you like bands like In Flames, and Dark Tranquillity, then you are surely to add Skyfire to your list of favorites in the very near future.

Yeah, Skyfire is a melodeath band, from Sweden, but dont pass them off as a In Flames/Dark Tranquility clone, because that would be simply false. Combining keyboards not heard this well since "Follow the Reaper", with majestic Nordic riffs and addicting drums, all are held perfectly together with Henrik Wenngren's high-pitched growl, which is remeniscent of Alexi Laiho and Tomas Lindberg. Favorite tracks include "Effusion of Strength", Cursed by Belief, and Conjuring the Thoughts.

If you think In Flames is a representation of Scandinavian metal, you are wrong (I still like them). I suggest Omnium Gatherum, Wintersun, Fragments of Unbecoming, Kalmah, and Insomnium in addition to this.

Skyfire's technical blend of melodic death and black metal has proven quite addictive to me. I just finished listening through Spectral for the first time and jut let it continue looping for a second time and probably a third before it leaves my CD player.

One could make a case for Skyfire to be firmly implanted into the black metal category, but they are 'officially' a melodic death metal band. The guitar work is toned down and blast beats carry the musical style into realms of melodeath. However, there is nothing death metal about the vocals, save for a few precious low growls. Otherwise, the vocals are all rasped black metal howls.

The keyboard backing to the music is at once charming and breathtaking and does a marvelous job of adding atmosphere and melody in a way few bands have accomplished. As for most Swedish death metal bands, they just don't achieve technical mastery of melody through keyboards. They do it with guitars and sometimes (gasp) vocals. This is not to say that Skyfire is a noticeable notch below such legends as Dark Tranquillity and In Flames. DT and IF do it their own way and Skyfire theirs.

All said, Spectral is breathtaking. In comparison to Children of Bodom or Norther, the vocals seem to be delivered in the same manner, but I belive Skyfire's vocalist to be just a step better than those of Norther and CoB.

Skyfire is good--really good. Get Spectral. Now. If you can find it. I'll go ahead and give this one a solid 4.6 of 5.

If combining the bombastic keyboard mentality of Nightwish and Scholomance into a progressive death metal outfit were easy, there'd be more bands then Skyfire doing it. Skyfire's take on death metal will find many friendly ears amongst the Soilwork fans hoping for a return to the more brutal and even amongst a few Cradle fans, though they're not as brutal as Scholomance or Cradle, they mostly resemble the technicality of mid-early period Soilwork. Joakim Karlsson's vocals are dry and raspy with no clean vocals mixed in. The songs are carried by thick keyboard passages but allow enough room in the production for the fast paced riffing to cut through. In short, the band is punishing but melodic as well without giving into the melodic vocals so many of their brethren have done. Short blast beat bursts and groove driven sections are abound in this bands third full length release.

This is an excellent progressive death metal release for fans that aren't afraid of keyboards!

For fans of: Nightwish, Scholomance, Soilwork

This CD is without a doubt the best melodic death cd I have probably ever encountered. Not only is this band musically talented, yet they know how to make their songs incredably catchy. I have not yet read, or payed attention to the lyrics, so I cannot say how the song writting is, but who cares? Fu*king metal!