Immortal Guardian - Unite and Conquer Review

The number of Power Metal bands we receive here has grown a lot this year. With quantity also came quality, two things that hardly walk hand in hand. I know, maybe I’m getting too cranky, but sometimes it’s hard to listen to zillion bands trying to be Rhapsody of Fire, if you know what I’m saying. It’s a fact there is only one Rhapsody of Fire. Hmmm, thinking carefully, on the other hand, this is not exactly the truth. But you know what I mean.

Immortal Guardian were founded by Gabriel Guardian, whose uncanny ability to play guitar and keyboard simultaneously has been showcased on MTV’s “Amazingness” and on his unique dual-instrument covers of classics by the likes of Iron Maiden, Pantera and Guns N’ Roses that have garnered hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube.

I didn’t expect much of Immortal Guardian and “Unite and Conquer” when I played album opener “Ozona” and its I’ve-heard-a-zillion-times intro with that fast played guitar with neoclassical influences. You know, the band name doesn’t help a lot in terms of originality. Nor does the album tittle. But the thing is that the track got very interesting when the intro finished. It acquired some groove that turned it into some inspired piece of Metal music. Little by little, listening to all the album, my dear child of the night will notice that Immortal Guardian have some tricks very well kept which they slowly reveal. One of them is Carlos Zema’s voice whose flexibility is amazing. The dude can go from very high pitched notes to the lowest. I don’t know many vocalists that can do it so easily as he does. The same can be said about the tracks of “Unite and Conquer.” They go from the worn out Power Metal tunes to exciting mixed features tracks in a sudden. Second track “Echoes” is on the same page as album welcomer as its intro is pure Power Metal but when vocals comes everything changes. A lot. Vocals give the song that shining atmosphere enough to making it great. Another great example of this is grand finale “Rise of the Phoenix.” On the surface it sounds like a typical Power Metal tune. But deeper, the track surprises as Carlos Zema goes on changing his voice and technique all over the track. Last, but not least, check “Roots Run Deep” vocal performances. So amazing!

Here’s an album that made my mind up. I’m almost convinced that Power Metal isn’t that predictable at all. Am I? Well, I don’t know, but Im’ pretty convinced talent isn’t. Let’s wait and see…

Immortal Guardian “Unite and Conquer” will be released on October 27th via M-Theory Audio.

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