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"Catchy from the first listen, "Above And Beyond" is full of treasures and allows Leverage to mark its territory with talent within the metallic and melodic landscape."
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4/5
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If there are bands that are difficult to classify stylistically, Leverage is definitely one of them. Borrowing at the same time to the melodies of the so-called FM hard Rock while sinking cheerfully on the metallic grounds, that they are symphonic or power, the Finnish sextet never hesitates to flirt with the borders of the progressive. Add to that a few elements taken from Celtic and Northern folklore and you will begin to get an idea of this unusual formation which has always remained coherent in its statements. After a break of about ten years, the band from Jyväskylä came back on the scene with an opus entitled "DeterminUS" (2019) which allowed us to discover its new singer (Kimmo Blom) and guitarist (Miko Salovaara). It is now the turn of "Above The Beyond" to confirm all the good that we could think of this return to business.
Not only does this album confirm the qualities of its predecessor, but it even allows its authors to go to the next level. The time when some members of the staff reproached Leverage for not reinventing the genre seems far away... With "Above The Beyond", the Scandinavians seem to have found the perfect balance between all the ingredients that compose their music. Launched by a fast power-metal 'Starlight' with Celtic folk influences and a euphoric chorus, the festival ends with the monumental and epic 'Silence', which lasts more than nine minutes. And it's fair to say that the Finns don't leave us much time to recover our spirits as each track of this edifice multiplies the hooks and the ambiences. Only the ballad 'Angelica' represents a real break with its bewitching and very 70's atmosphere. For the rest, and in spite of numerous calm introductions, the listener is carried away in a whirlwind of melodies and emotions.
Without wanting to be too boring, which would not pay the homage it deserves to this collection of finely cut pieces, we will nevertheless quote the symphonic metal with oriental touches of the single 'Emperor', both powerful and majestic. At the border of a progressive and cinematographic metal, 'Into The New World' appears in balance between the power of a heavy riff and the lightness of Celtic folk elements. Just like 'Silence', 'Under His Eye' alternates tempi and switches with talent to a progressive and melodic metal. As for 'Falling Out Of Grace', it seems to break the surface of a frozen pond to submerge us with its ritornellos and haunting refrains, offering in the process one of the many scathing, velocity and luminous soli of the album, and a new demonstration of Kimmo Blom's talent on vocals.
Leverage succeeds in the feat of being catchy from the very first listening, while each new discovery of "Above The Beyond" allows to tame treasures whose number seems infinite. In a Finnish metallic landscape, however cluttered by talented bands, Tuomas Heikkinen's gang has just marked its territory with talent and personality. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Starlight - 4:01
02. Emperor - 5:49
03. Into The New World - 5:36
04. Do You Love Me Now ? - 3:42
05. Angelica - 5:05
 06. Under His Eye - 7:18
07. Falling Out Of Grace - 6:04
08. Galleria - 5:21
09. Silence - 9:09
LINEUP:
Kimmo Blom: Chant
Marko Niskala: Claviers
Mikko Salovaara: Guitares
Sami Norrbacka: Basse
Tuomas Heikkinen: Guitares
Valtteri Revonkorpi: Batterie
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STAFF:
4/5 (1 view(s))
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