Greece's CHRONICLE SHADOWS released this demo CD EP in 2007. Polite enough being, they sent out a promo copy recently and we kindly decided to include it in the 'currently out' releases in our reviews section. The band's been around for nearly ten years, while their 2002 5-track I demo topped Greek Metal Hammer mag's demo charts back then.
The same-titled song starts off with an elegant Jarre-ish keys part. Some atmospheric Prog Metal sequence is enabled strictly afterwards. The vocals pump in; skeptic, wandering yet hopeful. Someone would end up summarizing a more Power Metal version of DREAM THEATER. And this is not, by any means, out of any question, even if the rest of the songs did not turn out to be of 100% equal orientation. Optimistic is more straightforward, with the rhythm parts flirting with an ultra-Heavy feeling, the drums playing mid-tempo hypnosis and the leads following the IRON MAIDEN/SANCTUARY/SYMPHONY X guidelines.
See Their Eyes See Their Hate...and see CHRONICLE SHADOWS tasting 'raw riffing' fire. The keys here are a little bit lost in the mix but I think I got the idea lurking in the bridge intermezzo. Vlassis' singing avoids sounding totally 'Greek' and that's a good thing. This song is kinda more depressing, with a visible taste of METALLICA's moody parts flirting with EVERGREY and (even) MAGELLAN. The guitars remain sharp but the keys lead in the middle of the song tops the spirit; so does the guitar solo afterwards.
Invisible wraps up the Bob Katsionis-recorded EP; a more Prog-related thematic tune again, but with 'bursting out' rhythm section parts. SHADOW GALLERY jut crossed my mind...Anyway, CHRONICLE SHADOWS (previously known with the more in-your-face name 'STORMBLADE') seem capable of slipping the big one and chase a 'normal label' deal. They are good enough in mixing atmosphere with groove, multi-instrumentation with riff-ness; I'll have my eyes on them in the future 'cause something good is to be revealed.