Behind A Vision is a fine album of symphonic metal, full of sweeping epic arrangements and unforgettable melodies. A must for fans of bands such as Nightwish and Xandria.
Eternal Idol were formed back in 2016 by Fabio Lione who is best known as the vocalist in Rhapsody and Angra. In contrast with the power metal focus of those bands, Eternal Idol ploughed a more traditional metal path (as hinted at by their name which is derived from the Black Sabbath album title) but with plenty of symphonic metal influences to boot. Guitarist Nick Savio (Hollow Haze) was the other prime mover in founding the band, but for this third release, Savio and bassist Andrea Buratto are the only original members of the band remaining. Despite the chopping and changing of the band’s line-up, Behind A Vision maintains and extends the band’s symphonic metal sound and demonstrates that there is life after Lione for Eternal Idol.
The album opens in storming fashion with Amnesia, awash with layers of synths, aggressive guitar riffs, and above all a memorable chorus line. There’s no restraint here and the song is symphonic metal of the most bombastic type. It reminded me of the style of Xandria, with a sound so lush it almost overwhelms the senses.
The dual male-female vocals recall Visions Of Atlantis and there’s definitely something of the same theatricality of that band. Gabriele Gozzi does sound quite similar to Vision Of Atlantis’s Michele Guaitoli, even if Letizia Merlo doesn’t seem to quite match the vocal range and quality of Clémentine Delauney. There again, it’s not always easy to judge because in some tracks the pair are disappointingly low in the mix.
The symphonic mid-paced template of Amnesia is used throughout much of the album, perhaps most successfully in the brilliant Battle Of Souls which has an earworm of a keyboard theme running through it. Beyond The Sun, the longest track at six and a half minutes, is another highlight and probably the most bombastic piece on the album as Savio adds some powerful guitar solos above rich layers of keys. Here the vocals are at their best, both in the rolling chorus melody and in the contrasting quiet central passage.
When Eternal Idol turn down the pomposity level, the results are more variable. The Enemy Is Me is the sort of melodic rocker that would happily grace a Delain album, but The Idol and Revolution are pleasant without being memorable. The Eye Of God is the one track on Behind A Vision that would fall into the power ballad category, and it proves to be another highlight. It starts off with gentle piano and synths before Savio enters with a very Schencker-sounding guitar theme. The way the voices interweave during the vocal section carries the song along to a powerful and very satisfying chorus. In contrast, the slower pace of The Eye Of God is followed by the fastest piece, The Great Illusion, which is closer to a straight power metal track. It’s got another earworm of a melody and Savio seems to enjoy being set free to do a bit of guitar shredding.
Losing talismanic frontman Fabio Lione might have been a fatal blow for Eternal Idol, but instead the band have produced their most ambitious and mature album to date. Behind A Vision is a fine album of symphonic metal, full of sweeping epic arrangements and unforgettable melodies. A must for fans of bands such as Nightwish and Xandria.
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