by Joe Mis
— Sr. Columnist —
Canada and power metal is not the most obvious combination – but the guys in Borealis think the two go together. This talented quintet has returned with their fourth studio release entitled The Offering, and it is overflowing with powerful riffs, catchy hooks, and solid melodic performances that blend Power Metal with elements of Progressive Metal and old school Hard Rock. Influenced by Evergrey, Symphony X, and Stratovarius, their music is broad in scope, powerful, and always melodic.
Founded in 2005, Borealis started as a Symphonic Metal outfit, but by the time of its first full-length release – 2008’s World of Silence – they had settled more into the Power/Progressive groove. They followed up with Fall from Grace in 2011, and Purgatory in 2015. Fronted by the deep and clear voice of singer/guitarist Matt Marinelli, Borealis definitely displays a lot of Scandinavian influence from the get-go, but they also roll in symphonic and theatrical elements which take them into a different musical realm. Fellow guitarist Ken Fobert matches Marinelli note for note and the two make a formidable team. Sean Werlick provides excellent keyboard hooks – always a part of the music as much as guitars or bass or drums. The bottom end is powered by Trevor McBride (bass) and Sean Dowell (drums), and again – teamwork is their key and they do it well. There is no doubt that the members of Borealis are music veterans play well with each other, and they all are allowed their moments in the spotlight.
Unlike their previous releases, The Offering is a concept album based on the band’s love of old horror movies, and tells the story of “… the creation, rise and ultimate demise of a cult who practices human, more specifically child sacrifice.” Fortunately, the dark nature of the story is tempered with elements of hope and justice, and the songwriting is such that each track can stand alone without leaning on the others for context.
The crisp production values of drummer/producer/mixer Sean Dowell’s work is obvious from the first notes of “The Fire Between Us.” The softer keys and connect beautifully with the massive double bass drums and choppy guitar riffs, providing a solid base for Marinelli’s baritone vocals. “Sign of No Return” is pure Power Metal with a great sing-along chorus over a wall of drums and bass, with guitars and keys spiraling off into solid counter rhythms. The intense rhythm guitar work on the title track “The Offering” is nothing short of amazing, and it all leads into an awesome extended break – but for some reason, the song fades out rather than ends – seems odd and distracting for a metal track. “River” has a very European tone, and is built around vocals flowing over rapid-fire drums and bass, while “The Second Son” slows things down a bit to focus on keys and vocals.
“The Devil’s Hand” opens with neatly done acoustic guitars and sweeping keys, adding in a number of symphonic elements while building in power to display Marinelli’s vocals at their best. “Into The Light” features some nifty guitar work and interesting tempo changes – but the track seems a bit forced, lacking the natural flow of the other songs. The ballad “Scarlet Angel” feels to be a little outside the band’s comfort zone – it is well executed but the passion and fire of the other tracks just isn’t there.
Fortunately, the true power comes back on “The Awakening,” a track that opens with a “Dokken-esque” set of riffs and turns into something complex and varied that hearkens back to the Zak Stevens Savatage days. “The Path” is a very effective instrumental piece that allows the band to fully switch gears and ramp up for the closing pair of songs – the punchy and aggressive “Forever Lost,” and the triumphant 8 minute-plus epic “The Ghosts of Innocence.” The ambitious closing track embodies all the strengths of Borealis (songwriting, instrumental performance, vocal delivery, atmospheric creation, orchestration) and none of the weaknesses, showing that these guys are on par with their European counterparts.
On the whole, Borealis’ The Offering should appeal to fans of EuroMetal, Power Metal, or Progressive Metal. Intense, moody, and aggressive, Borealis delivers technically complex music without flaw and always with melody. Musically solid and relatively cliché-free, The Offering is a strong release that bodes well for the Canadian Metal scene and is recommended for fans of the genre.
Genre: Progressive Power Metal
Band:
Matt Marinelli (vocals, guitars)
Ken Fobert (guitars)
Trevor McBride (bass)
Sean Werlick (keyboards)
Sean Dowell (drums)
Track Listing:
1. The Fire Between Us
2. Sign Of No Return
3. The Offering
4. River
5. The Second Son
6. The Devil’s Hand
7. Into The Light
8. Scarlet Angel
9. The Awakening
10. The Path (Instrumental)
11. Forever Lost
12. The Ghosts Of Innocence
Label: AFM Records
Website: www.facebook.com/borealisband/
Hardrock Haven rating: 
(7.5 / 10)
