BLACK HOLE is a Power/Progressive metal band based out of Mullhouse, Grand Est, France. The project started in 1995 and this is their first full-length record entitled “
Lost World”, released through the
Via Nocturna label on May 31
st 2018. The album immediately starts with double bass, keyboards and guitar riffing in “
Better Days” and then slows down to a cleaner sound.
Fabio Torrisi shows off very natural-sounding vocals and in the higher notes does remind me a bit of
Klaus Meine“No More Hope” shows off some nice piano prowess and some cool sounding bass lines from
Patrick Umber. The more we hear the vocals, the more I feel he would have been a perfect fit in any
Malmsteen-era. The power metal aspect is more evident in this one too. Some other highlights on the album include “
Help Me” which shows a more
IRON MAIDEN approach in melodies and structure. “
Forever with us” has a more melancholic and darker tempo, and definitely has that old school 80's power ballad feel (the connection to
SCORPIONS here is very strong). “
Carved In You” has some great emotion poured out in the solos, leading into a more traditional straight-ahead metal side. “
The One” has some intriguing transitions as well (with a great piano intro again) and even if it remains mostly a mid-tempo piece, it is great outro.
There is a lot to appreciate on this album. You can definitely tell that the band has worked on their craft for a long time. Every note, every part has a purpose and is structured carefully to convey emotion and have memorable choruses.
Songwriting: 8
Originality: 8
Memorability: 8
Production: 8