#24 - Top of 2017

Hällas - Excerpts from a Future Past (The Sign Records)

Retro rock/metal has been gaining in popularity the last 5 or so years. No band exemplifies what that genre can achieve better than Hällas. This is the band's debut album and it's certainly one of the most interesting debuts of 2017. The albums kicks off with the solemn intro of the "Astral Seer", before breaking into a Blue Oyster Cult riff, with rough and mellow vocals by Tommy Alexandersson. "Repentance" has more of a Uriah Heep vibe with a very old-school main NWOBHM riff. The instrumental Nerbulon's Tower that follows acts as a chill out intro to "The Golden City of Semira" that starts with a beautiful riff and low vocals and has beautiful intricate riffing that playfully flirts with prog rock. "Star Rider" is a true rock with evocative emotional riffs and a beautiful chorus that is bound to get stuck in your head long after you hear the song. "Shadow of the Templar" is a Uriah Heep epic, clocking at almost 8 minutes, followed by another epic, with more Deep Purple references, "Illusion Sky" with awesome epic keyboard-led melodies, which closes out the album. If you love any of the above-mentioned bands or if you are simply a fan of melodic rock with epic touches, then you should definitely seek out and buy this awesome album that is bound to keep you company many cold nights!




93.2/100



Below is the music video for "Star Rider" featuring excerpts from the awesome 1921 movie "The Phantom Carriage".