Melody is not any easy word to use when you want to describe a band's basic characterisitic. To be more precise, the following bands all have melody to promote at first sight: Ten, Angra, Children Of Bodom, Nightwish, Saviour Machine, Stratovarius, White Lion, Arcturus… Yet, there's no way someone can figure out how close White Lion's and Arcturus' music is… Element V is not the band's fifth release, as someone could easily suppose; this Australian quintet releases its debut effort via DVS Records - I love your motto; Music We Love For People We Like - and I must admit it's a rather remarkable start for this hardworking band (formed in Perth during 1999). There's no way I can describe Voyager's style in one sentence since their musical taste is diverse, mixing lots of different - even contradicting - elements from a wide variety of sub-genres, pushing the limits to edges rather unreachable for the ears of Only Epic Metal is true or Black Metal reigns, all else die kind of people. Even if power and progressive are the key words to this excellent album, still the band creates a unique style where e.g. fusion Rock and black Metal can come along in the same tune. There are no complex parts, no extraordinary solos or endless double bass drumming, progression is in the compositions and melody flows endlessly. Don't be afraid, the mix of all these different blends is done so cleverly that both the Rhapsody/Blind Guardian and Dream Theater/Shadow Gallery fans will find lots of interest in this release. Each of the musicians is first-rate, the vocal melodies are great and the general feeling someone will get is that this band knows how to compose songs with various melodies in. Element V is an excellent release; and I don't - in general - like what's been established as Progressive Metal. The five Aussie magicians deliver something even more, an album that MUST be purchased as soon as possible; it'll be a pity if Voyager doesn't make it to a great reputation with this one!
Tracklist:
Sic Transit Gloria Mundi To The Morning Light Cosmic Armageddon Pt. 1 Towards Uncertainty The Elenenth Meridian This Bitter Land The Ancient Labyrinth Miseria Monument The V Element Cosmic Armageddon Pt. 2 Kingdoms Of Control Time For Change Echoes Of Old Terra
Lineup:
Daniel Estrin - Vocals & Keyboards Emanuel Rudnicki - Guitar Mark De Vattimo - Guitar Melissa Fiocco - Bass Geoff Callaghan - Drums & Percussion