ARRAYAN PATH – Ira Imperium

Maybe you remember the following line from one of Blind Guardian’s older classics: “So many centuries, so many gods, we are the prisoners of our own fantasies…”. The term “prisoner” doesn’t always have to be used in a negative context. You can say that without fantasies as so called jailers, Metal would have lost a lot. So being prisoners ain’t that bad after all. It led to some fine Metal albums. Ira Imperium, by the rising American based Arrayan Path, is such an album.

It hasn’t been easy for the mostly Greek oriented group, prior to the album’s release, as they had to add an additional “A” to their name in order to stop the scrutiny that surrounded their original name. That same scrutiny raised a few mentions of Nazism and Racism. The original name was not even close to politics as it was the name of a flower, Arryan, which grows in North America. However, in the long run that change may have served them well because as it seems, this third release is superb and promotion is an important factor.

The epic nature of this band has always been connected to eposes, tales and fantasies. Those themes have been the main focus of many other bands. Whether it is about ancient gods, legends (mainly Greek mythology) and some history, everything is there and Ira Imperium has it in plenty. Nevertheless, the themes being interesting and all, weren’t the main reason why this album is so great. As it seems from their earlier releases, Arrayan Path has no boundaries when it comes to musical development while still preserving the same spirit from album to album.

Arrayan Path’s main Metal subgenre has always been Power Metal, the Euro kind. But over the years they were able to more or less differentiate themselves from most of the other posh bands while writing intricate material without damaging the flow within the tracks and between them. The music is exceptional with its strong sense of melody, crafty and progressive lead and rhythm section and high flying vocal talent in the front that keeps on being richer.

Ira Imperium has no singular concept but a set of different songs. It didn’t stop it from being a hit machine. “Emir Of The Faithful” of the bringer of Islam, the prophet Mohammad that inspired to assert harmony with a new religion. This is a well made track with great diverse tempos and amazing vocal work, especially on the chorus. The lead Middle Eastern mandolin riffs are divine. It felt like both a story and a galloping horseback ride in the same tune. “Katherine Of Aragon” served as the opera of this release. Such diversity in the song made it sound both as a striking Metal machine and an Rock opera. Arrayan Path seemed to have selected on following Queen’s footsteps of “Bohemian Rhapsody”. “Lost Ithaca”, one of the interesting legendary stories of Greek mythology, was filled with the colors of harmonious Metal. The chorus was the most breathtaking with its energies, like electrical surges through one’s mind. “Ira Imperium (The Damned)” featuring ex-Black Sabbath vocalist, Tony Martin, and “The Empty Eyes Of Nefertiti” featuring Sanovisen’s Vagelis Maranis, were both enhanced by the guest appearances besides being exciting on their own.

So there you have it. Only examples were displayed here yet the entire tracklist can serve as your milk and butter. It will be interesting to listen to the next album by Arrayan Path and how they are going to top this one. Rest assured that the vein of this present album and the previous ones will be there to accommodate.

Tracklist

1. Dies Irae
2. Gnosis of Prometheus
3. Ira Imperium (The Damned)
4. Kiss of Kali
5. Katherine of Aragon
6. 77 Days ’til Doomsday
7. Emir of the Faithful
8. Hollow Eyes of Nefertiti
9. Amenophis
10. Lost Ithaca
11. I Sail Across the Seven Seas
12. The Fall of Mardonius
13. The Poet Aftermath

Lineup

Nicolas Leptos – Vocals
Socrates Leptos – Guitars
Alexis Kleidaras – Guitars
Vagelis Maranis – Bass
George Kallis – Keyboards
Stefan Dittrich – Drums