There are moments when concepts are used not in music itself (as usual by acts as KING DIAMOND), but become a whole visual thing into a band (just check the number of bands using medieval or barbaric clothes on Folk Metal and other genre in such way, or even on Black/Death Metal acts as BEHEMOTH), and no one can forget acts as LORDI and GWAR as well. But the North American act ARMAGELION comes with a different way on the visual concept and with their new EP “Armagelion” as well. The production works on a way to create a clean and defined sonority, allowing the fans to hear and understand what being expressed by the band. But on the other hand, the outfit of the songs bears a 80s Hard/Glam Metal outfit, what means that the search for something organic and simple was done as well. And it works and fits on their music.

The visual concept of the band is related to sci-fi literature and old films, as a kind of galactic being that comes to take over the planet. Musically, the band works on a form of Hard/Glam Metal way that belongs to the 80s, but that is still great today, with guitars, bass guitars, drums, keyboards, backing vocals and vocals working coherent and solid as a granite rock, filled with many melodic hooks. It bears resemblances with acts as KISS (during the quartet’s Glam Metal age of the 90s, between “Creatures of the Night” and “Revenge”), BON JOVI (especially on some vocals traits), DEF LEPPARD, and with some punctual aggressive touches as MÖTLEY CRÜE. The genre played isn’t new, but it’s played with personality, and it’s hard to resist the band’s music.

All the five songs of “Armagelion” are truly fine pieces of music, and listening to “Welcome to the Show” (an accessible and charming moment filled with excellent melodies and a charming chorus), “Sweet Pain” (another excellent set of melodies can be heard, with vocals contrasting in a great way with the keyboards during the chorus), “Playing With Fire” (a complete and frantic party ‘n’ roll moment in a BON JOVI’s way, with fine guitars’ parts and arrangements), “Lie to Me” (here the melodies were built upon a solid and heavy work of bass guitar and drums), and “Say You Love Me Again” (an expected power ballad, filled with contrasts between introspective moments with fine pianos parts and bass playing, and powerful parts with drumming and domain of the guitars) is an experience that all fans of Glam Metal must deserve.

For now, let’s expect higher flights of ARMAGELION while listening to “Armagelion”.