#7 - Top of 2020

 Arrayan path - The Marble Gates to Apeiron (Pitch black records)   

Moving up through the 2020 Top, we find another band which has repeatedly appeared in our list of 2016, 2018 and the Best of Epic Tops. They are none other than Arrayan Path, the epic power metal band from Cyprus who released their 8th album. The Marble Gates to Apeiron from beginning (with its title track) to end is packed with blasting drum bits, memorable choruses and melodic guitar interludes. Once again, the songs are elevated by the front vocalist, Nicholas Leptos and his one of a kind voice which only seems to get better as time goes by. A personal favourite and highlight of the album is "Metamorphosis", a great example of great musicianship and memorable lyric-writing. The more theatrical and dark "Virus" which is eerily relevant to the past 2 years of the COVID era, the positive "To Live Another Day" with its romantic touch and the amazingly melodic "Mask of Sanity" are also great tracks that provide a interesting change of pace while the perfect ending is given with the even more catchy "A Silent Masquerade" and the epic "Black Sails (The Nemean Ode)" which is impossible to get un-stuck from your mind!

Nemean ode oh Nemean, heeding the beat of a drum

 

95.7/100

Below official music video for "Metamorphosis".