It's not hard to hear bands combining elements of Progressive Metal and Power Metal. It's common since the wave of the genre that arose in the second half of the 90's, so it's an old Metal genre. But the difference is, as always, the ability of a band to breathe new life on it, to create something personal in the middle of many common acts. And the North American quintet INFIDEL RISING shows it on "A Complex Divinity".

They work on a trench that resembles the old ways of Progressive Metal on the middle of the 80's (when the genre was just appearing), having roots on acts as FATES WARNING and QUEENRYSCHE on their primordial Progressive Metal days, and with some clear influences of Power Metal acts as GAMMAY RAY and Old School North American acts as VICIOUS RUMORS and OMEN, creating a form of music that's filled with musical weight and melodic hooks, but with very good sets of contrasts and a refined instrumental technique. They're pretty good, and with potential to create even better songs on the future. The sonority could sound a bit cleaner in certain moments (due some drier parts), but works in a good way, because the band can express its ideas in a comprehensible way, with weight and the due dose of aggressiveness. It could be better, but's very good in the way it's presented.

The album is really very good, a surprise, indeed. And to have a good experience, taste "All the Fear" and "Silence of the Night" (both songs bear that 80's scent, with very good melodies and contrasts, and great guitar riffs and orchestrations from the keyboards), "Ov Wormwood" (this one has an evident aggressive touch, and very good work of bass guitar and drums), "Let Wisdom Speak" (some epic choirs, Middle East elements and broken rhythms show the versatility of their work, and what great vocals can be heard filling the spaces), "As Reality Dies" (another very good moment of the keyboards, with very good dynamics between bass guitar and drums on the rhythms), and on the catchy "Beautifully Drowned". Even with the technical care and rich arrangements, this album is extremely easy to listen to and like.

"A Complex Divinity" is really a very good release, and INFIDEL RISING is really a promising name in the USA scene, indeed.