Immortal Guardian, the 4 piece progressive power metal outfit release their new album Psychosomatic. They had originally gathered in Sin City to record this album. However the global pandemic scuppered those plans and each member reverted back to their respective homelands.
Guitarist/keyboardist Gabriel Guardian remaining in Las Vegas and vocalist Carlos Zema recording his vocals from his home in Brazil. New drummer Justin Piedimonte joined the band from his hometown in Montreal, Canada, and new bassist Joshua Lopez remaining in Immortal Guardian‘s native Texas.
Therefore we have an album recorded entirely within the confines of planet lockdown. The wonders of progressive technology. Fitting for a prog band eh? This led to the band starting the album from scratch. The emotional toll we have all felt from the COVID-19 outbreak was channeled into a new version of this record. It can be felt all through the album, with tracks titled Lockdown and Self Isolation present and accounted for.
Founding member Gabriel Guardian is already well known for his ability to play multiple instruments simultaneously. His unique dual-instrument covers of classics by the likes of Iron Maiden, Pantera, and Guns N’ Roses have garnered hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube
Following the release of debut album Age Of Revolution in 2018, Psychosomatic is the next step in Immortal Guardian’s evolution. Continuing to capture the band’s exhilarating trademark melding of melodic power metal with progressive/shred tendencies.
Now to be honest for a second, I am not the biggest fan of progressive music. Metal or otherwise. I generally find it too fussy, I much prefer a straight forward rhythm to head-bang to. But by the mighty hammer of Thor this album is solidly mind-blowing. I genuinely don’t remember the last time a prog album hit me like a opening pitch to the family jewels on first listen.
The arrangement is next level, expertly layered together. In a similar way to how modern video game music has taken on the Hollywood blockbuster method of thematic arrangement. Epic is a word casually thrown around when describing power metal. However, in the case of Psychosomatic, calling other albums epic in comparison is like calling The Rock flabby.
I don’t really need to say a huge amount more. You just need to go listen to this album right now. Whether you care for prog, power or neither, you will not be disappointed. The arrangement is breathtaking, the musicianship is spellbinding…why are you still here? Be gone mortal being, you have an album to grace with your presence.
Score: 9/10
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