ELECTRONOMICOM is a multinational band formed in 2007 that specializes in Heavy Metal/Hard Rock style anthems that reflect the "Golden Age" of the 1980s with a modern twist. Age Of Lies was released in June 2019 via Elevate Records. This is a band for fans of classic metal bands that go heavy, but not over the top. The guitars are heavy, the rhythms solid, but the solos are more artistic, rather than shredding.

There are three instrumentals out of the 12 songs. "The Age of Lies" is first and serves as the intro to "I'm Still a Rebel." It is keyboard driven, ethereal and sets the stage well for the power to come. In the middle, "Tempest" gives us a bit of a break from the heavy, going more melodic. This one is acoustic guitar driven with a lot of storm sound effects in the background. Dreary and dark, this feels like inner turmoil. The last is "Gateway to A Galaxy Unknown," features more piano and a brighter tone. This feels like the story being resolved, though not with a very satisfying ending.

"Trapped In Time" begins with a clock chiming the hour and a crow cawing while sound effects build the tension. The imagery brought forth is pretty dark and foreboding. The guitar riff kicks in nice and heavy with some lighter soloing over the top. The riff and rhythm are slow and chug along at a nice tempo. The song is well-modulated and times out nicely. The vocals are gritty and rough, a little more noticeably so than on "I'm Still a Rebel." That roughness is golden, fitting the tone of the song well.

"Welcome To My Life" starts very ballad-like. Then the guitars kick in and demolish that illusion. The song has a bit of a struggle in it, like the lyrics are trying to reconcile what life is like as opposed to what you wanted it to be or hoped it might be. The lighter keyboard tones under the heavy guitar riff provides a sonic representation of that tension. I think most people can relate to this song in some way.

At almost 8 minutes long, "Emerald Forest" is the longest song on the record. The crow is back, the keys are dark and menacing, and the song builds fairly quickly, going from ethereal to doom-laden pretty fast. The vocals are darker and in a lower register than much of the earlier record. The lyrics mention the black forest in his conscience and the fears deep in his mind. This is the song where you face the darkest part of yourself and have to either reject or embrace what you are capable of, like it or not.

Interestingly enough, the next track is called "The Song of Hate." The guitar riff is tense, and the drummer is adding to that tension by maintaining a slow tempo that builds a lot of anticipation. This is well written, really drawing the listener in to the struggle within. The rough vocals add to the this, elevating the fear and anger. Here, he hits a few notes that really evoke a memory of Ronnie James Dio. It brings a warmth to my ears hearing something like that.

The lyrical section of the record ends with "Venom," a song that has complex guitar work right at the front. This is a song about the person who speaks without thinking. They tend to hurt the feelings of their enemies and friends alike and often don't seem to know why people steer clear of them. Harsh and critical, they repel like reversed magnets. The guitar work is really nice on this song. They get a bit of a shred into the solo, making this one of the heavier songs on the record.

This record feels like a journey of self-exploration, self-discovery. I'm not sure the voyager likes what they found. The music is quite good. The guitarists are solid, working very well together. The keys fit well into the overall scheme of things. The drums and bass build a nice foundation, not really shining through, but holding the weight of the songs with ease. They never get heavy enough for me to say they crossed into thrash, but they get pretty darn close.

Whether they are aiming for the melodic end of the spectrum or the heavier end, they move through the zones with grace, shifting back and forth. The vocals get gritty when necessary and the underlying effects add a lot to the compositions. The fade out with the wind blowing and the Christmas song playing feels desolate and dark, like the end of the journey was cathartic, but not what was expected.

I have felt all these things, more than once. Anyone who has looked inside honestly, even when facing their darkest self, will recognize this record, will feel it intimately. Like it or not, this is in all of us. Do you dare to face this truth?