4.5/5 stars
Without having heard the work of Pyramaze before, it’s all too easy to be sucked in by the power of their symphonic metal and be made instantly a convert to their sound. With “Contingent“, the Danish outfit delivers desolate destruction with shredding guitars, operatic choruses and a magical use of synth effects.
Grabbed by non-existent balls, opener ‘Land Of Information’ swoops in with a mighty sound, shocking and unexpected with falsetto glam vocals and sociological message of impending destruction. Such is the nature of Contingent, pushing home a message of a world divided with a captivating soundtrack. Pyramaze takes us down a gothic path with ‘Kingdom Of Solace’, ringing out with bells and melancholic minor chords all dancing around that same wonderful structure of heavy and effected guitar work.
Pyramaze tend to be classed as melodic metal, but they’re breaking new ground with their fifth studio album, bordering on something heavier. The band have a genius way of intertwining the instrumental and operatic with the hook-heavy anathematic headbanger types, tracks that are sure to quell the thirst of any Nordic metal fan.
The saga continues just so – through ‘A World Divided’, ‘Obsession’ and ‘Under Restraint’, Pyramaze run through a volume of songs that paint a heavy picture without being preachy, a palatable release of an album, one that is surely deserving of widespread recognition as a masterpiece of metal.
