ASPIRE: Reviews

METAL TO INFINITY (Belgium)
Aspire is a New York based Metal with a lot of quality on board! Aspire was formed back in November 2004 by guitar player Al Candello and vocalist Ryan Metzger. First Aspire effort was an EP called "All Ahead", i presume released in 2005. Haven't heard this work myself, but some research allow me to say the received response was very well. Even, the title track was chosen to take part on the 'ProgPower USA VI Music Fest' promo CD!

What follows was a debut album entitled "Quest Eternal", released with a full line up, ready to kick some ass. Ryan took all the lead and backing vox for his account and all guitars, MIDI sequensing and additional keyboards were perfectly handled by Al. Yeah, you read it right and well, Aspire contains only two members those days but all is so damn great recorded, arranged and fixed up, you almost won't hear the difference. I really do like the style of the band's vocalist. He has quite a unique voice with a lot power in his might. He reminds me of Tim Lachman from the 80s US Metal gods Gargoyle. To be honest, climbing the ladder straight to some ultra high vocal notes are aiming a bit too high for Ryan but a global meaning allows me to say, he's good - real good! Maniacs into US Metal with nice vocals, check it out!

As for their style of music, be prepared for a mixture of different styles such as Classic Hard Rock / Metal, Euro Power Metal and even Symphonic or Epic Metal won't be forgotten. Throwing a few names to comprae, well i'll give it a try and go for bands like: Domine, Skylark, Labyrinth, Rhapsody. "Lost Forevermore" is one of my faves due to great vocals and fantastic guitar leads / solo's played with several keyboard parts in a mid / up tempo way. Great song anyway!! "All Ahead" is another fave of mine, sounds pretty fast and push me in the direction of early Helstar (J.Riveira) days, especially when you listen closely to a few vocal lines and guitar duties.

"Riding With The King" shines really bright and once again, vocalist Ryan Metzger caughts my attention along with the awesome sounded guitars of Al Candello. All slow down for a while with the song "As Many years (Go Passing By) but the speed and trye power will turn back during "From The Shadows". Longest track entitled (9 minutes!) "The Liberator" is superb. Sometimes, vocals are not that stable but the entire song has so many variations and quality minded elements on board you'll forget that little argument real fast.

"Quest Eternal" is more than just a regular album to me. It has a strongful US Metal character, is made by only two guys in very good circumstances...definitely recommened to both US, Euro Power Metal worshippers. Lately, some other guys joined the Aspire ranks so the band's current line-up contains five members. They're ready to play some live performances which is planned for the autumn of 2005. Hopefully, the Quest Eternal tour will be in your hometown real soon. If that happens, don't hesitate and go talk a walk straight to the venue where Aspire will walk the stage...a feast on Metal won't be far away!!

MY POINTS: 90 / 100

HARVEST MOON MUSIC (USA)
Power metal bands are often referred to as having either an "American" or "European" sound as a boilerplate for comparison, and such references are warranted because there is indeed a distinct sound to the music coming from either side of the Atlantic. Aspire, a band from Brooklyn, New York, defies such a standard by having adopted a distinctly European flair. Having said that, the band does not neglect their American metal roots and so Quest Eternal, their debut full-length, does indeed offer plenty of power.
At the time Quest Eternal was recorded, Aspire was comprised of only Al Candello (guitars, keyboards) and Ryan Metzger (vocals). Yes, the rhythm section was programmed. Be that as it may, the instrumentation is tight and the album is quite solid. With the European influences being predominant, the keyboards are integral to the structure of every song. They are not, however, overstated to the point of being frilly or distracting. The one exception occurs with "All Ahead", a song which tends to lean towards the "happy metal" of the Italian kind. Rest assured, though, for the remainder of the songs (including the ballads) stay far away from that territory. In addition to his fine keyboard contributions, Al plays quite a mean six-string. His riffs have plenty of crunch to staisfy fans of Helloween and Blind Guardian, while his solos are very crisp and fit seamlessly into place. "Lost Forevermore", for example, blends both of Al's strengths and as a result is one of the highlights of the album. An energetic keyboard overture gives way to heavy riffs that are subtly reminiscent of Judas Priest. A classic guitar solo, followed closely by a furious keyboard passage lends considerable balance to the composition.

Frontman Ryan Metzger sings with a smooth tenor, and delivers in a style resembling that of a troubador. He has an expressive voice and projects the proper emotion with each verse. His weakness, however, lies with the higher notes. Sounding a bit strained when reaching above his normal range, Ryan is at his best when he remains in his comfort zone. A track of epic proportions, "The Liberator" perhaps holds Ryan's best performance as quick-paced passages and somber interludes showcase his vocal versatility. Al also comes through with some meaty riffs and wispy solos, not to mention setting the mood with keyboard parts that range from graceful to frenzied.

Power metal fans who prefer bands such as Dark Moor and Helloween over the pomp of Stratovarius or Rhapsody will find Quest Eternal to be an enjoyable listen. A refreshing addition to the power metal genre.

BARIKADA (Bosnia & Herzegovina )
Aspire finds inspirations in several sources, and in their approach, we could find elements of Euro power metal, progressive rock from the 70's, 80's hard rock, and progressive metal from the first part of the 90's.A main author and guitar player Al Candello also took additional performing jobs (keyboards, sequences), and sound which Aspire offered on their album, is colorful, vivid and complex. I couldn’t' t find any similar group to Aspire on nowadays scene, and generally Aspire as a band is a unique act. Al also did a production work, which is modern. A band recorded on album one untypical ballad - "As Many Years" (Go Passing By), which is structurally different, then other parts of mostly tight and coherent materials. I have also recommend a great artwork of their CD's cover, and additional technical details. Aspire is the band that soon could be a new addiction for fans of mentioned genre's forms.

MY RATING: 9/10

HELLION RECORDS (Germany)
Strange kinda band here, symphonic metal on one hand with those high speed drumming and lots of keyboards but not happy at all, more dark and mystical from the expression of the melodies. The voice is mid ranged and quite theatrical, has surely a cult feel and reminds more of bands like Season of the Wolf then of Stratovarius or even Rhapsody and so the whole music is very much different from your alldays gay sympho speed stuff, even though they use similar elements but with way more guitar power and a haunting atmosphere. You can feel the passion of the musicians and don't get the idea that this was just computerized digital pop someone wanted to sound metallic. The riffing is often very traditional and memorable, so are the vocallines and guitarharmonies. It is quite outstanding stuff but with a certain underground twist concerning the sound. Anyway, good start. This band could get quite well loved among the fans of real metal.

METAL COVEN (Germany)
Das es selbst in einem inzwischen doch recht verpönten und ausgelutschten Genre wie dem symphonischen Epic/Power Metal immer noch mal wieder frischen Wind und wirklich mitreißende Bands gibt, dass beweisen uns die aus Brooklyn stammenden Aspire auf ihrem Debütalbum "Quest eternal" in äußerst eindrucksvoller Art und Weise!! Denn die Band, die hier noch als Duo auftrat, inzwischen aber komplett besetzt ist, kupfert nicht einfach bei langweiligen und völlig überflüssigen Genreikonen wie Rhapsody oder Stratovarius ab, sondern bemüht sich vielmehr mit Erfolg einen sehr viel interessanteren und spannenderen Stil!! So erinnert mich die Mucke auf "Quest eternal" dann auch nicht selten an die alten Griechenhelden von Vavel, die es schon in den 80ern meisterlich verstanden, pompöse Keyboards, melodische Gesänge und dynamische Songs in absolut untuntiger und beileibe nicht verwässerter Art und Weise zu einem feurigen Underground Metal zusammen zu schmieden!! Würde man diesem Sound noch einige neoklassische Nuancen ala Malmsteen, einige tiefgründige Zitate ala Savatage, einige proggige Einflüsse ala Shadow Gallery und vielleicht auch noch die eine oder andere Prise spielerischen 70s Rock ala Uriah Heep beimischen, dann - so denke ich - würde das ganze als Beschreibung der auf "Quest eternal" dargebotenen Musik schon recht nahe kommen!! Eine super Mucke also, die allen denjenigen, die ihren stark komponierten, versiert gesungenen und einwandfrei gespielten Melodic Power Metal gern auch mit dem gewissen Etwas ausgestattet sehen, wirklich allerbest gefallen dürfte!! Abgerundet wird der starke Eindruck, den man bereits mit der Musik machen konnte, dann übrigens auch noch durch ein gewaltiges Artwork und ein hübsches, 8-seitiges Foldout-Booklet mit allen Texten, so dass man hier für eine Independentveröffentlichung nicht nur bärenstarken Metal geboten bekommt, der den Großteil der ähnlich gearteten Labelbands meilenweit hinter sich lässt, sondern auch eine überaus ansehnliche Verpackung, die professionellen Ansprüchen in allen Belangen leicht und locker stand halten kann!! Riskiert einfach mal ein Ohr und lauscht einem epischen Hammersong wie "Lost forevermore", einer verspielten Speednummer wie "All ahead" oder einer getragenen Ballade wie "As many years (go passing by)", taucht dazu in die stimmige Phantasiewelt des grandiosen Artworks ein und lasst euch von Aspire verzaubern und verwünschen... ihr werdet's bestimmt nicht bereuen!!

METALLUS (Italy)
Band stanziata a Brooklyn, negli USA, gli Aspire iniziano la loro carriera con una formazione a due, che comprende il singer Ryan Metzger e il chitarrista/tastierista Al Candello, che si occupa anche della programmazione della linea ritmica. Infatti, al momento della registrazione del loro debut album autoprodotto ‘Quest Eternal’ (che segue il primo EP ‘All Ahead’) la band prevedeva solo i due musicisti citati. Attualmente invece il gruppo è stato arricchito dall’arrivo del bassista James Orlando e del batterista Eddie Red, che sicuramente renderanno più “completo” e “pieno” il sound dei nostri.
Nonostante le parti programmate di batteria ‘Quest Eternal’ si rivela una vera e propria sorpresa, un album che spazia agevolmente in ambito epic metal, inserendo parti più classiche, parti speed ed altre ancora prog.
In una miscela molto eterogenea spicca il talento compositivo di Al Candello, che rende le sette tracce di ‘Quest Eternal una continua sorpresa, mixando alla perfezione tastiera e chitarra in più occasioni, a partire dall’efficace ‘Lost Forevermore’.
Anche il singer Ryan Metzger, sebbene non sia un mostro di tecnica, riesce a porre il suo sigillo di personalità alle canzoni che canta, rendendo indissolubilmente legate al suo timbro canzoni come la potente ‘All Ahead’ (dotata di un coro molto efficace e di duelli chitarra-tastiera decisamente ben riusciti) o l’epic track ‘The Liberator’, una mini-suite che prevede accelerazioni, parti cadenzate e un intermezzo melodico emblematico di uno stile sempre alla ricerca di soluzioni che possano sorprendere l’ascoltatore.
Anche i testi dell’album sono tutt’altro che scontati; proprio partendo da The Liberator’ abbiamo ad esempio una storia fantasy tinteggiata di satira e umorismo: praticamente il testo della song narra di come un drago abbia conquistato un regno, di come tutti gli eroi andati a combatterlo siano morti senza riuscire a sconfiggerlo e di come, infine, i paesani siano riusciti a renderlo innocuo facendogli mangiare quantità enormi di cibo sino a renderlo talmente grasso da non essere più in grado di uscire dalla propria tana.
Tornando alla tracklist val la pena anche di ricordare l’ottima epic power song intitolata ‘Riding With The King’, che vanta uno dei riff più classici ed un chorus estremamente epico, ma anche il lento soffuso ed etereo ‘As Many Years’, che propone come protagonista la tastiera e la voce vibrante di Ryan.
Sicuramente la miscela singolare e personale degli Aspire potrà incuriosire molti amanti dei generi presi in considerazione.
Per far vostro ‘Quest Eternal’ contattate direttamente il gruppo tramite il sito www.aspireband.com