BLACK YET FULL OF STARS is a project founded in 2012. Guitar player CARLO DINI. Influenced by the sound of heavy
guitars and thrashy riffs, the music is clearly based on an orchestral input. With the adition of vocalist DAVID SCOTT MCBEE, the music found it's final setting, and today, after four years of hard work, BLACK YET FULL OF STARS isn't only the name of a project any more. It became the name of their self-titled album as well.
With great rolling riffs, plenty of electronic additions, and a virtuous atmosphere throughout the album, this isn't just the next symphonic project. It became an epos that takes the listener on a journey beyond imagination. It's the journey every man has to make, to grow from a boy to a man. It's the journey BLACK YET FULL OF STARS had to make to grow from a project in to a sound. Thight, crisp, well ballanced, explosive, challenging and melodical virtuous. Words seem pale, when discribing this album. Where the album can be a welcome compannion on a lengty journey, it's power lies in the messages inside. It can be a guide when feeling outcast. It can give you the courage to face your choices. It can help you decide what or who to leave behind and who to reli on. The album tells you the skys may be dark, but it's is full of stars at the same time.
Because of the great orchestration and mastering, I feel BLACK YET FULL OF STARS deserves nothing less then 8,4/10.
Wim Op de beeck
VERTIGO from SOUND STORM can be seen as a metal album, and a TV series. High paced melodical changes, alternating instrumental battles. VERTIGO is a
powerfull album, that clearly didn't stay inside the box to convince the listener of the capabilities in the band. However, it all sounds a bit pale to me. In the segment of orchestral or symphonical metal, inbreed can be dangerous. While the band implicates some strong riffs, powerfull drums and good vocals, it all sounds like it's been done before to me. There's plenty of elements that can testify for SOUND STORMS creative skills. But they all seem to try very hard to convince me of the fact this is not the next copy of what's been done before. And it isn't of course.
For fans of the genre, this album will be a strong example of the genre. For any other metalhead, it may sound to close to other great names in symphonical metal. And then it all becomes one blend. FORSAKEN is an example of that statement for me.
Maybe it's the influence of more experimental music that kept me listening to the album. And I'm glad I did. ORIGINAL SIN is a solid song with progressive influences. It suddenly makes me look at the album in a different way. More as an musical experiment then an album. More as a gravity defying piece of music then a display of what's been done before.
If you can listen to the album with the right mindset, it will become something else entirely. It may be more challenging to really listen to, then you initially will think.
Therefor a 7,2/0 seems fair to me.
Wim Op de beeck