HEIMDALL – Aeneid

Heimdall is a theatrical Italian Power Metal band. The six-man line-up, which includes a triple guitar threat, is reminiscent of over-the-top dramatic albums featured in the latter day versions of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Iced Earth. Heimdall produces a bold and powerful sound with their strength revolving around vocalist Gandalf Ferro. Ferro ‘s audacious vocal style gives a fiery old school life to the compositions and takes the entire product to the next level.

Heimdall’s beginnings go back to the mid 1990’s with the release of their first album in 1998. Their early albums certainly had a more progressive sound with the addition of symphonic keyboards and a different singer. The culmination of the band was heard in their previous release from back in 2004 with Hard As Iron. The dramatized and exaggerated compositions came to full fruition on this album. At the time it may have been hailed as a near masterpiece, however fast forward nine years later with a new vocalist, Hard As Iron doesn’t even come close to the powerhouse wall of sound produced on Aeneid.

Aeneid has all the elements of a classic and epic adventure. With abundant orchestrations, theatrical sound effects, valiant guitar riffs, and daring vocals. Ferro’s vocal style is like Bruce Dickinson, Matt Barlow, and Ralf Scheepers all wrapped into one person. His range is extremely versatile with the ability to perform a high pitched precision as well as a baritone sinister style.

The finest vocal performance for Ferro can be heard on the track “Ballad Of the Queen” which is mostly an acoustic and orchestrated song. Ferro does get quite melodramatic and pretentious singing this song, but the ability to provoke the emotional content with an array of vocal styles is something to be commended.

The three guitarists should also be noted for their work on Aeneid. Led by the band founder and lead guitarist Fabio Calluori there is a great amount of self-induced passion that is easily noticeable. The other two guitarists Carmelo Claps (who has been with the band since the beginning) and new guitarist Umberto Parisi only add to this enthusiasm with intense riffs and a multitude of fervor.

The only downside to Aeneid may be lack of subtlety. Everything about this album is big and bold. With so much effort to create a movie-like invocation and visualization; there is a certain delicacy and refinement that is lost. Similar scenarios have been heard with bands like Kamelot that put too much emphasis on dramatics and the simplicity of the music is lost.

Overall, Aeneid is grand and epic adventure. There are many influences from old school Power Metal heard here. It’s truly a passionate album tailor made for the passionate listener.