HELREIDH – FRAGMENTA 2012

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Helreidh is an obscure progressive metal band from Italy which hasn’t had a new recording since 1999. Now resurrected and signed to Germany Pure Prog Records, the band releases their third album, Fragmenta.

Founding members Yorick (g) and Luca Roggi (d) are joined by Max Bastasi (v), Aligi Pasqualetto (k), and Francesco De Paoli (b) for this recording of songs that come from early band material, ideas from other projects, and current compositions. Hence, the nameFragmenta.

The music within is a good cross section of traditional progressive rock and metal. You’ll hear echoes from Savatage to Kamelot, with an undercurrent, at times, of power metal and a feeling of melancholy emotions (as on Exile or Shades of My Untimely Autumn). The musicianship is solid with strong performances of traditional metal guitar by Yorick throughout, but also some fine bass lines from De Paoli, as on Ex Visionibus.

Perhaps the most interesting performances come on the more sublime songs. Shades of My Untimely Autumn and Congedum, the closing piece, offer delightful acoustic guitar and bright piano. Orfeo’s Lament, another melancholy piece, finds Bastasi’s both floating and soaring over piano, symphonic keyboards, and a subdued but impressive solo. It’s the best song here.

Fragmenta is a strong return to form for Helreidh and, hopefully, promises more progressive metal to come (rather than another 13 year hiatus). Recommended.

1. Exordium: Fragmenta
2. In Hoc Signo Vinces
3. Ex Visionibus…Fatus
4. Orfeo´s Lament
5. Exile (We Mot Delen Ato)
6. Shades of My Untimely Autumn
7. Zep Tepi
8. Congedum: Whispers from Outer Space

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