During the early days of the 90s, as the Second Waves of Death Metal and Black Metal took over the underground by assault, other genres were being reworked out of the cameras to become palatable for younger fans. The coming of acts as DREAM THEATER, GAMMA RAY, BLIND GUARDIAN and others opened ways for a fusion between Power Metal and Prog Metal, then appeared a hybrid that was labeled as ‘Progressive Power Metal’. But a band under such blend needs to answer if they’ll be extremely technical, or then use a better melodic side, because it’s not simple to do such genre. But with mastery the Italian sextet LABŸRINTH shows a very good way on it on “In the Vanishing Echoes of Goodbye”, the band’s 10th studio full-length.

Simone Mularoni (producer, mixing and mastering, known for his works with IBRIDOMA, ELVENKING, NECRODEATH, JORN, LIONE/CONTI, NANOWAR OF STEEL, LUCA TURILLI’S RHAPSODY, VISION DIVINE, ELDRITCH, NE OBLIVISCARIS and many others) worked with the sextet again (he worked with the band on 3 past releases), giving a band a heavier sound, but defined and oriented to be clean and defined. And it fits perfectly on the band’s musical ideas, with very good instrumental tunes (especially on the guitars).

The band follows a form of Progressive Power Metal that has a very good level on instrumental technique (without exaggerations that would become hard to swallow for the fans), but without leaving aside the precious melodic side, with very good choruses and contrasts (hear to “Out of Place” to check it). The band uses a set of instrumental tunes that boosts the aggressiveness, but always with refinement. It’s not a sin to say that the sextet is using its traditional way of making music, but renewed and revigorated, because they use their experience to make things, and the result is a massive flux of energy and melodies, always with personality and good taste.

“Welcome Twilight” (very good fast tempos with strong bass guitar and drums presence, and a charming chorus with great backing vocals), “Accept the Changes” (a heavier song with excellent melodies in the guitars, but with oppressive weighty parts), “Out of Place” (a song with an 80s feeling, with contrasts between melodic introspective moments and heavier parts that make the vocals evident, fitting greatly on both moments), “At the Rainbow’s End”, “The Right Side of This World” (charming keyboards arrangements contrasting with the melodic guitar arrangements), “The Healing” (clean guitars and keyboards effects contrasting on the beginning, and the whole Prog Metal melodic ambience is amazing), “Heading for Nowhere”, “Mass Distraction” (there are aggressive parts here contrasting with excellent melodies), “To the Son I Never Had” and “Inhuman Race” (what great melodic hooks and keyboards moments) shows that these guys still have tons of firewood to burn!

“In the Vanishing Echoes of Goodbye” is that kind of release that will satisfy the older fans of the sextet, and surely will earn some new ones to LABŸRINTH.