Symphonic/Power/Melodic Rock-meets-Metal on Perris Records? Woah...The world will stop spinning, haha! Getting' serious: KELDIAN's second album, Journey Of Souls was released a couple of months ago and - even late - a brief review of this appealing CD seems fundamental. I dig this album more than its predecessor, Heaven's Gate (also via the Perris label), to tell you the truth.
Norway is the land of the mystique and un-discovered, when they want to do so. Christer and Arild had in prior cooperated in a couple of projects - PROTOS NEMESIS and ALIEN LOVE GARDENERS; in order to set up in a more serious base their love for movies and powerful music, they soon formed KELDIAN, with no less than a dozen of participants providing help for the making of 2006's debut album. KELDIAN derives from the old Norse word 'kelde', meaning 'outspring'. As such, Heaven's Gate sprung out to be a good Symphonic/Power Metal album with some Folk(?) and Pop(?) references and a good doze of soundtrack/cinematic songwriting. Now, Journey Of Souls comes - I have the impression - to overlap it.
AOR, Scandinavian Power Metal, Norwegian Pop, Northern Folk, Pomp Rock...what else? Journey Of Souls is a journey to the unpredictable, or - in other words - to the land of blends. In half, the songlist tempos are fast, but with diverse intermezzos flirting with sci-fi or 'space prog' references. Christer Andresen's vocals are clean and distinct, with a 'metallic' stint and some lurking depression. Or is it a wandering spirit? Female vocals are used also in many songs, along with choir refrains, and prove to be rather needed for the purpose of songs like e.g. The Devil In Me. A more 'light' version of AYREON, a relevance to ROYAL HUNT, some TEN 'point', the outlook of CORONER in Grin, a glimpse of...A-HA...hmmm...yes!
Saeveral non-Metal instruments are included in some tracks, I guess. Flute? violin? Something more? Yes. Still, dominating the sound is the presence of fat keys with a 'universe' vibe that shall haunt you in the first place. The drums are pounding - in their own way - and we are happy to see again Jorn Holen behind the kit in some songs. A really exhausting task, I guess, since the overall duration of Journey Of Souls is beyond 50 minutes of really complex instrumentation and - usually, as pre-said - fast marks.
Intelligent music, really. If your taste applies to the aforementioned facts, then proceed in no fear 'cause KELDIAN's new album is here and will definitely leave more than satisfied. Really hope this band will be widely know, sometime. Not my cup of tea, personally, but no-doubt a striking duo for your 'cosmic' Metal needs.