Juvaliant

Inhuman Nature

Price: 13.25

Review / Notes: Anyone out there sat patiently waiting for Symphony X to follow up 2007’s ‘Paradise Lost’ opus could do a lot worse than check out ‘Inhuman Nature’, the debut offering from oddly named Austrian five piece Juvaliant. Hailing from the baroque architectural masterpiece that is Salzburg, Juvaliant (who until relatively recently were known as Fallen Angel) have been around in one form or another since 2003, but it’s taken until now for them to establish a stable line up and refine their sound sufficiently enough to unleash it on the world at large. Produced under the aegis of Jan Vacik (Serenity, Lanfear, etc.) at Dreamsound Studios in Munich, their intricate yet accessible blend of symphonic, power and progressive metal influences was impressive enough to land them a long term deal with LMP, ‘Inhuman Nature’ thus far repaying that faith with a string of impressive reviews across continental Europe. So, having afforded them a rather grand introduction, what do they sound like I hear you ask? Well, first impressions are as I said earlier, very much in the Symphony X mould (complex arrangements, intense riffs, foreboding atmospherics and angst ridden vocals), but as you delve a little deeper, other influences start to rear their heads. For starters, the classical influences within the Juvaliant sound are more pronounced which in some respects makes their melodies more accessible, and the riffs are at times more inclined towards the power metal end of the spectrum. So, if a mixture of Symphony X, Blind Guardian, Rhapsody, Iced Earth and Serenity sets your pulse racing, then my advice would be to check out tracks such as ‘Into The Abyss / Heroes’, ‘Hell’s Roundabout’, ‘On Wings Of Steel’ or the eleven minute tour de force ‘Cold Distance of The Universe’ sooner rather than later … I’d be surprised if you were disappointed. The vocals courtesy of Thomas Strübler (so often the weak link with bands of this ilk) are resonant and powerful throughout, whilst the deft technical interplay and ambitious arrangements are impressive to say the least for a debut. Best new band from Austria since Serenity ... enough said! (D.Cockett)