SINGLE REVIEW: The Dead and Living - MAGMA HEART
With some words on DAMAGE EP
MAGMA HEART is sonically sci-fi empowered, very full, vibrant with anthemic choruses and rebellious ethereal choir. There is flavour in all of the layers that make this single from the big 80’s synth that create a grandiose atmosphere.
The vocals are also at full capacity range fulfilling texture between feminine angelic soaring melodies contrasted with a gritty generals of operation.
There is nothing short in this track with progressive melodies, solos and chuggy rhythm guitars.
It feels like something that would go nicely for a major final boss in a video game. I adore the sci-fi fantasy soundscape it creates and it all goes very hard, including the visuals that go in hand.
My only criticism is, the vocals are subdued- hidden behind the power of the music, they feel they are written to be at the forefront, but are defeated by the many magical layers. For me to feel this is perfect I just need to hear those vocals at the front succeeding to their full potential.
Touching upon the rest of the EP follows a very similar theme, with heightened grit within DAMAGE whilst DEMONS TILL I’M DEAD has a modern hip-hop infused formula in both vocals and the popping of some synth percussion, I would go a little further and say it draws some pop-punk aspects that trickle within the chorus. ARMY OF MANKIND follows a very traditional metal formula kicking out brutality on guitars with touches of the sci-fi chorals, really grounded in those pounding percussions.
Overall a great come back to the music scene with fresh futuristic concepts and headbangers.
