by Justin Gaines
– Senior Columnist —
It’s been five years since Bulgarian melodic/progressive/power metal band Project Arcadia’s debut album From the Desert of Desire, but the band is finally back with a follow-up. Project Arcadia figured out a sure-fire way to get fans’ attention with this album, titled A Time of Changes. They enlisted none other than Urban Breed (ex-Tad Morose, ex-Bloodbound) on vocals.
Project Arcadia’s style is definitely in keeping with the overall nature of the Nightmare Records roster. They hit that sweet spot between progressive and power metal, and it’s obvious they take cues from Dream Theater and Symphony X. There’s a strong melodic aspect to the songs on A Time of Changes, which makes it a very easy album to get into. It’s in the guitar work as well as Breed’s vocal delivery. There’s also a degree of complexity to the music. Never full-on prog, but these guys definitely have strong technical chops. They keep the songs brief (almost all under five minutes), powerful and very catchy.
Of course, having a singer with Urban Breed’s profile on board means that it’s the vocals that garner most of the attention. Fortunately, Breed delivers a very strong performance here. His own unique combination of power and melody suits the songs on A Time of Changes perfectly, and he seems more at home here than he ever did in Bloodbound. And yes, there are a couple of tracks here (see: “I Am Alive” and the title track) where you get that classic Tad Morose vibe.
Given Urban Breed’s track record, it’s hard to know whether this is just a one-off performance or the start of something larger. Either way, fans of his vocals will find a lot to love on A Time of Changes. And if it gives Project Arcadia a bit more attention, that’s a good thing. Their songwriting and musicianship are certainly worth bringing to more melodic/progressive/power metal fans’ notice. If you’re into bands like Vanden Plas, Damnation Angels, Kamelot, Seventh Wonder, Circus Maximus and yes Tad Morose, you’ll want to give this album a listen.
Genre: Melodic Metal, Power Metal, Progressive Metal
Band:
Urban Breed (v)
Plamen Uzunov (g)
Dobromir Paraskov (b)
Daniel Dimitrov (d)
Villy Neshev (g)
Track Listing:
1. Here To Learn
2. Shelter Me
3. I Am Alive
4. Beggars at the Door
5. The Ungrateful Child
6. Timeless
7. Joy
8. A Time of Changes
9. Formidable Foe
10. The Deal
11. Shadows of the Night
Label: Nightmare Records
Website: www.projectarcadiabg.com
Hardrock Haven rating: 8/10
