Pyramaze – Bloodlines
Release Date: 23rd June 2023
Label: AFM Records
Order/Stream
Genre: Progressive Power Metal, Symphonic Melodic Metal, Heavy Metal.
FFO: Evergrey, Kamelot, Symphony X, Hammerfall, Masterplan.
Review By: Rick Farley
Few bands have the skill to combine progressive power metal with symphonic and melodic tendencies that leans ever so slightly to the pop side of things and still have it be “metal horns” worthy as well as fully accessible to almost anyone willing to give it a spin. Starting solely as a classic power/heavy metal band, the band’s first three albums were fairly traditional and straightforward. By the bands fourth album, Disciples of the Sun, Danish legends Pyramaze had taken a new musical direction with more prog elements, symphonic undertones, and the addition of the then relatively unknown Terje Harøy on vocals. A combination that proved to be effective as well as providing a good foundation to build upon. Now fast-forward to album number seven, Bloodlines. The band continue their hybrid progressive era set forth in motion several albums ago and embrace their twenty years of history while also taking themselves further into a more contemporary, polished sound.
The album was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Pyramaze guitarist and renowned producer Jacob Hansen and is releasing on AFM Records.
Bloodlines is an album of many outstanding contrasts. A multitude of anthem worthy sing-alongs, atmospherically dense soundscapes, progressively dynamic grooves, and muscular guitars all combine into a kaleidoscope of unforgettable melodic metal that feels refreshing yet still very familiar. One play through and the earworms will be working double time. The modern metallic surge of Taking What’s Mine combined with a huge singable chorus brings to mind newer Evergrey minus the dark melancholy. The forward moving, power metal paced Fortress is an epic battle ready hymn full of intense charging guitar work from Jacob Hansen and Toke Skjønnemand. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the vast heartbreak of Alliance is staggering in its power ballad beauty. Featuring a guest vocal appearance from Melissa Bonny (Ad Infinitum). The incredible power of Terje’s voice blended with the silkiness of Melissa’s is a duet filled with saccharine vocal melodies that are undeniably majestic and immensely powerful. The most progressive track on the record, The Mystery shines with its hammering drums from Morten Gade Sørensen and intricate piano/keyboard work from Jonah Weingarten, both creating different song structures throughout the spirited track. Andrew Kingsley (Unleash the Archers) and Olof Mörck (Amaranthe) both lend their guitars to the epic song. Tim Hansen, son of Helloween/Gamma Ray founder Kai Hansen, adds a vibrant solo on the crunchy and crazy memorable The Midnight Sun. The album is jam packed with highly skilled musicianship and fully realizes, from front to back, a complete circle of well put together songs and technical proficiency.
Thematically, Bloodlines revolves around the curiosity about the unknown, as well as personal issues told from a subjective but never moralising point of view. The band wants to stimulate their fans imaginations, but also supply them with food for thought without limiting their freedom of interpretation. A cinematic scaled journey packed with moods and depth that you can get lyrically and musically lost in for the length of its forty-four-minute runtime.
For two decades, Pyramaze have been delivering consistently good albums for their fans all across the world. Despite a revolving door of musicians over the years, the band has still remained relevant to their original sound. For either of their two eras they have developed a strong and loyal fanbase but remain one of metals most undervalued bands. Bloodlines is filled to the brim with musical and emotional connections that should please any current Pyramaze fan and hopefully pick up some new ones. 
(4 / 5)
