SECRET SPHERE – Blackened Heartbeat

The Italian power metal outfit Secret Sphere rarely fails to impress me, and Blackened Heartbeat sees them deliver their most memorable opus to date. I cannot recall them ever having written such catchy and pleasing tunes as the ones that this LP is comprised off, and you get rip-roaring metal delights, atmospheric gloom matched by musical variety, epic vocals, blistering solos, and galloping riffs galore. With its powerful production and superb musicianship, there is very little not to like and cherish about its eleven tracks. Some are more noteworthy and special than others though; ‘Bloody Wednesday’ possesses a brisk pace and a sense of gothic grandeur, ‘Captive’ is instantly appealing thanks to its strong melodies and heart-wrenching vocals, ‘Confession’ is a scorching heavy metal workout boasting some stellar keyboard work and a top-notch chorus, and the title track ensures that things end on a high and dramatic note. My life would have been just fine without the cliched ballad named ‘Anna’, but the record generally stands tall and proud as a very solid and well-written piece of work with a lot of attention to the subtle details and an emphasis on mood and feel.