The Pitch: Swiss melodic, symphonic death metal group Xaon return with another instant classic worthy of the same respect as the greats. FFO: Ihsahn, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Dimmu Borgir
What I Like: I was already a big fan of Xaon's previous album, so much so that I included them on my video of bands recommended for fans of Fleshgod Apocalypse. These guys very much possess the same flair for both melodrama and heaviness; a quality that has only matured with Solipsis. First and foremost, I sense an increased confidence in the band's melodic and traditional progressive influences with the ratio to death metal shifting closer to 50/50 if not 60/40. As someone who is definitely more of an extreme metal fan, this could have spelled disaster, but thanks to Rob Carson's powerful, Ihsahn-esque singing and Xaon's adept songwriting skills, I'm more enthralled than ever. "Eros" in particular is an excellent showcase of what they can do with a more operatic approach, and its massive conclusion is in my top symphonic builds of all time. But never fear fans of all things harsh and heavy, the death metal is no less death...y. The pulsing, mid-paced groove of "Solipsis" and Soilwork-reminiscent riffs and screams of instant classic "Carillon" should satisfy those looking to bang their heads and throw up the horns.
Critiques: The second half doesn't quite have the same energy as the first, though it continues to grow on me. The only real change I would make is in regards to the "River" interlude. It's a lovely composition, but I think that it would work better as an instrumental. Not a fan of the vocals here.
The Verdict: Solipsis is another major victory for Xaon, and an admirable step forwards in the band's clear evolution. With the right attention to marketing and your support as a reader I could see them hitting it big in the near future.
Flight's Fav's: Carillon, Solipsis, Mobius
- Review by FlightOfIcarus
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