Second chapter in their fast rising career, the follow-up to their acclaimed 2019 debut ‘De Rerum Natura’, Moonlight Haze's ‘Lunaris’ consists of eleven tracks that will bring you through a timeless journey far away, enough to get trapped between frantic grooves, powerful lyrics and addictive melodies. The front album cover is also very much appealing to my fantasy (artwork and graphics by Beatrice Damori). Album will be available the 12th of June!
The album starts withTill The Endwhere Chiara Tricarico (ex Temperance) leads the band to a first highlight! The chorus is powerful and catchy. You hear clearly that she has a strong voice and dances on the vocals chords as if it’s a child’s game! The tempo is high, but has some breaks so that all can catch some breath. I like the vibe and the guitar play too! More into symphonic power metal is The Rabbit Of The Moon.This song sounds like a fresh breeze during a hot summer day and has a touch of the 80’s. The chorus and the backings are just great!
Lunaris explores Chiara Tricarico vocal possibilities as she walks up and down the vocal chords (she even goes for a short while in Opera style). The song sounds sweet, with strong backings and a positive feel. Under Your Spell starts with an acoustic guitar and turns into some kind of a romantic ballad. Somehow it reminds me of Roxette versus Within Temptation. Enigma starts slowly but turns into a whirlwind with hard hitting drums and a synth in the front. Most of the track is sung in Italian and sounds pretty exotic. Later on it gets a touch of Opera-minded vocals (and a clear Epica touch). I even think I can hear some Russian words in it, but sadly I don’t speak Russian. More powerplay comes with Wish Upon A Scar , but don’t worry it still sounds kind and positive. The backings sound like a battle choir. The Dangerous Art of Overthinking needs almost 2 minutes before we hear the first vocals. It sounds pretty epic, with lots of twists and vocals that sound really different (from angelic to grunting and screams). The music goes from epic symphonic to trash, Opera metal and burlesque. It’s as if they needed to prove that they can play any kind of metal genre. Without You sounds harder and goes faster as expected with that title. It’s a real symphonic metal track with a lot of high tones. Of Birth and Death Featuring Elvenking’s violinist Fabio Lethien Polo sounds really sweet, soft and angelic. It’s like the beginning springtime during the medieval times in the garden of a very rich princess! Back to our symphonic metal with Nameless City. The song sounds like taken from the soundtrack from Indiana Jones. It’s as if you go together with them on a journey towards this strange and mythical city. Towards the end we even hear a male choir and more male vocals with a solo. The end with the English version of Enigma.
Well it’s not bad at all. I can even say I enjoyed it. They took me out for a long and thrilling walk. Listening with headphones on gives the best result! I believe in them and hope they will go on like this!
