From Bandcamp, “Through sound and words, FLAMEKEEPER describes how painful yet rewarding can be to stand for our own ideas, making it worth to die for them. There is no brighter star to roamers than a restless heart on fire.” The album has nine songs, and “New Wild World” is first. The opening tones are monumental and ominous sounding, and the vocals are surprisingly clean. I mostly hear a combination of Black Metal, Thrash Metal and even some Power Metal, especially in the cadence and key of the vocals. It sound like early METALLICA in that regard.

The title track has some nice vocal harmonies leading to an anthemic sound. As he sings “I am the flamekeeper,” the listener is convinced, and the leads are strong in support of the sound. “Raise the Banner” leads off with a crunchy riff and even some 80’s elements. So far, this is a unique sound, blending several genres together, but it’s hard to put your finger on it. “Stray yet Still Free” furthers that the band likes that big, monumental entrance, and I appreciate that you can hear some of the bass guitar notes. “Us and Them (The Song of the Voiceless)” sounds like another rough anthem, urging you to stand up and raise your voice against oppression and tyranny.

“Death, You’ll Tremble to Take Me” is like a big “fuck you” to the reaper…ill advised, but defensive nonetheless, and the leads are fire again. Perhaps the best part of the song are the vocal harmonies and the hasty sound. “As One with Light” is another hasty song tinged with Power Metal elements. “The Roads of Rome” close the album, with another ominous sound. Heavy bass guitar pounds away, holding down the bottom end, while the cadence is like a death march. Even though this was touted as Black Metal album and it is on a Black Metal label, consider that a very loose definition. It has a lot of other elements in it, and Marco is not afraid to let listeners know his brand of music.