Endless Main : Sea of Lies
by Franco C.
Staff Writer
From a country almost as old as time, comes a band with a sound that can certainly keep up with any of today’s power metal heavyweights. Endless Main, a 6 piece from Slovakia have unleashed their debut, Sea of Lies, complete with feverishly paced drums, luxuriant keyboards, murderous guitar solos, grunts and screams all mixed in a sea of melodious voices adding a tangible backdrop.
Power metal is not about playing fast, nor is it about just adding melody and harmonies to an otherwise furiously played rhythm. True, any group of persons can form a band, kick out a release, and call it power metal. But power metal – real power metal, is more than those components listed above. It is a sentiment that with an unrelenting drive does 2 things – 1, makes the listener want to reach for the volume knob, and 2, it reaches deep into your heart and soul and creates a stirring of passion that causes an inexorable desire to bang one’s head and loose themselves in the music. Firewind has it, as does At Vance, Edguy, Heavenly, Primal Fear and Masterplan. Endless Main, despite a few minor flaws, is all those things which make up power metal. Granted, not to the degree that the afore motioned groups do, and, yes it must be said, not quite as ardent, but, they do possess the creativity and talent to bring together a CD where one can only agree that what is heard is indeed power metal. So, with all that having been said, Sea of Lies is a step in the right direction.
The strong keyboards of the opening instrumental track, titled appropriate enough, “Intro,” sets the mood of Sea of Lies almost instantaneously. Soft and calming are the first few bars with a backdrop of wind, but as the intensity of the track builds, and additional layers of synthesizers are heard, the listener starts to get carried away, the gut feeling begins and the nodding of the head starts. Within the refrains of the last few bars is the sound of a woman’s scream. Kicking the listener in the ass is the next track, “Home.” And for the first time, come the vocals of front man Michal Sepetka. While the lyrics are difficult to discern, due in part of the accent of Sepetka, he does do a fine job of lifting his voice above the blanket of music coming from his band mates. Sepetka’s vocal styles, while powerful in its delivery, could be in more tune, and cohesive with the lay of the music. It must be stated however, the guitars of “Home,” are exceptional, as are the drums, (the notable use of the double bass drums is startling,)
Listen as well to the CD highlight, “Angels and Demons,” with its strong use of layers of keyboards, the vocal harmonies of “Only Once,” the dominant vocal screams and grunts of “Revenge.” It is “Revenge,” which takes a turn from power metal to that of almost a death metal vibe, as the “feeling” of power metal is not as evident as it has been up to this point. The soothing, peaceful ballad intro of “Shared Hopes of Romance,” turns into a power metal track with good use of a twin guitar attack. Again, the vocals perhaps not as strong, and in tune, but a good track nevertheless. The closing track,” Once Upon A Time,” is pompous, grandiose and high flying with almost a symphonic metal feel (think Derdian or Rhapsody of Fire).
Yes, Sea of Lies is a strong showing, and again a step in the right direction. To the boys of Endless Main, it must be said – stay within the genre of power metal throughout the CD, make the bass guitar more prominent and avoid the flux of a few tracks that deviate into what could be construed as symphonic or death metal.
It is a hope that in future releases the band stays strong, takes the good from this, and makes it better and Endless Main could, with time, be a band that one could mention in the same breath as Firewind, At Vance, Edguy, Heavenly, Primal Fear or Masterplan. And that would be a hell of a compliment.
Genre: Power Metal (with a few deviations)
Musicians:
Michal Sepetka – vocals
Matus Sudila – guitars
Marek Fenci – guitars
Jakub Sepetka – bass
Michal Prochazka – keyboards
Pavol Lubuda – drums
Track Listing:
Intro
Home
Angels and Demons
Only Once
Revenge
Shared Hopes of Romance
Once Upon A Time
Label: Independent
Hardrock Haven rating: 7.0/10