(Napalm records) Total Time: 49:00
France hasn’t used us to symphonic metal. FAIRYTALE on the other hand have all the elements to become a household name. With name changes and time between their last work “Of Wars In Osyrhia’ their new album ‘Score To A New Beginning’, comes as a fresh of fresh air to an overblown (sic) genre. The band history back to the late 90’s, the band (previously known as both Fantasy and Fantasia) was created based on the masterplan of keyboard player Philippe Giordana. Their first album ‘Of Wars In Osyrhia’ created some positive comments on the band and their music and got them a deal with Napalm Records for follow up ‘The Fall Of An Empire’. The decision of the rest of the band to leave main man and main composer, Giordana alone , just didn’t stop them. He enlisted some quality guest musicians (SERENITY vocalist Georg Neuhauser) to complete their latest work en titled ‘Score To A New Beginning’.
The band is like a more operatic version of BLIND GUARDIAN, more refine and delicate with the symphonic elements all round in big proportions. The soundtrack elements are also all around, giving the band style comparisons/similarities with NIGHTWISH. Only in this case male vocals, give far more depth and metal feeling to the result. The album is definitely based on the soundtrack, tactic, painting pictures and waiting for the listener to invest time and effort, to envision them. The music has some complex parts, reminding of bands like ENCHANT and SHADOW GALLERY, mostly on the pomp and the overexposure of melody. Otherwise, this is a pure melodic, symphonic metal album, with crystal clear vocals and songs that make the result stand out from the mediocrity of the genre. A real winner for all of you out there.
