Moonlight Haze – Interstellar Madness (EP)
Release Date: 22nd May 2026
Label: Scarlet Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Symphonic Power Metal
FFO: Stratovarius, Avantasia, Nightwish, Sonata Arctica, Angra, Within Temptation.
Review By: Trina Julian Edwards
Italian symphonic power metal mainstays, Moonlight Haze, bring us their fifth studio release, Interstellar Madness, releasing on Friday, May 22, via Scarlet Records. The EP takes listeners on an epic journey through the cosmos, investigating things seen and unseen, both outside of and inside the self. Interstellar Madness features vocalist Chiara Tricarico, guitarists Marco Falanga and Alberto Melinato, Alessandro Jacobi on bass, and Giulio Capone on keyboards and drums. Although it has only been around a year since their last release, Beyond, fans will no doubt be thrilled to hear new music from the band. Interstellar Madness is relatively short, coming in at only around 21 minutes, and musically, it feels more on point than 2025’s Beyond.
Moonlight Legion is a really fun, catchy opener. The almost folk-y intro leads into an explosive verse with tons of movement and texture, and the dynamics keep things exciting throughout the piece. The orchestral elements are still the driving force in this track. However, the composition is nicely balanced between the symphonic and choral aspects vs. the guitars and drums, giving us a seamless blend of all of the different facets. Tricarico sticks more to her mid-range in this track, but the harmonies are lovely, and she definitely puts some power behind the highs in the chorus. This is one track where you not only want to bop your head in time with the music, but also sing along.
One of my favorite tracks on this EP is Lost in Moonlit Symphonies. They keep things moving at a lively pace, with the symphonic elements dancing along with the driving rhythm. The vocal melody line fits beautifully with the melodies of the strings, and there is some staggering in the rhythms during the instrumental section that changes it up a bit and breaks up the driving rhythm before picking it up again for the final chorus. The music fits the narrative perfectly, as Tricarico sings,
Night skies,
Stars and Galaxies,
We are floating free…
Flying high
Far in outer space
In this daydream…
We Are Fire slows the pace a bit, but what it lacks in speed it makes up for in drama. The dynamic composition gives us a bit more heaviness than the previous tracks, but there are still plenty of symphonic elements, elevated by Capone’s keyboards. There are some nice chugging guitars, and Tricarico gets a little gritty in the chorus, giving a kind of Pat Benatar vibe that works really well in this track. The pace briefly picks up around 3:05, building to the epic final chorus and the solo that takes us through to the end.
Shine is another favorite for me. It has a more traditional power metal feel that adds some nice variation. The guitars are more forward in this track, and there are some really fun instrumental breaks with harmonizing leads and fiery solos. The keyboards and symphonic elements are still very much in attendance, especially in the soaring chorus, but the melodic guitar leads are the real stars. Tricarico still mainly sticks to the mid-range here, but her vocals pack a punch. They’re animated and engaging with no showboating, which is one of my favorite things about her style. She knows where her sound has the most power and control and leans into it.
Interstellar Madness has a cool, sort of ambient intro before dropping in the chugging guitars in time with the frenetic strings. While the keyboards, symphonic elements, and choral backing do the heavy lifting in many places, the guitars and the steady rhythm are the anchor. Tricarico really shows what she can do here, giving us some lovely operatic highs while channeling the quirkiness of Kate Bush. The Italian in this track also adds to the drama, and some cinematic instrumental sections give it an over-the-top feel. It all combines perfectly to illustrate the “madness” theme: “Enter the realm of illogical longings, Dreams are the law here and Reason is yielding…” This is the most theatrical track on the album, and one of the most impressive in their catalog.
Interstellar Madness: Finale is an instrumental closer. The dynamics are superb, with the keys and the symphonic elements mostly driving this track, but the heavy rhythm provides the cosmic-sounding melodies with the strong foundation needed to hold everything together.
Overall, I think fans will respond positively to Interstellar Madness. I love that the songs are short, with fast-paced tempos and intricate orchestral arrangements. Although the keyboards and the symphonic elements are the main driving force, the rhythm keeps things in check, and there are some great guitar highlights. My only complaint is that I could do with even more guitar. While I enjoyed last year’s Beyond, I feel like it fell victim to some of the genre’s tropes. As I noted, Interstellar Madness basically kept it short and sweet, which I think allowed them to dodge some of the previous criticism. The musicianship is top-notch, and Tricarico is in fine form. I’m extremely picky about my cleans, especially from female singers, having trained for the opera myself, but I can find no fault with Tricarico’s vocals. She’s a charismatic singer, and her vocals are very appealing.
The EP was produced by Sascha Paeth (Avantasia, Angra, Kamelot, Edguy) and mixed and mastered by Simone Mularoni at Domination Studio (Wind Rose, Vision Divine, Twilight Force), so the band had some incredible talent working behind the scenes as well, and the production is excellent. The title, Interstellar Madness, may sound intense, but this EP is a really fun listen, and a great pick-me-up for anyone who needs a break from the terrestrial madness of Earth.
(4 / 5)
