FROM THE DEPTH – Moments

A rich, layered sonic texture awaits listeners who pick up Moments, the newest release from Italy’s From The Depth. Their first full length release since 2011’s Back To Life, Moments broadens their mastery of Power Metal motifs in an album intended “to celebrate relevant memories and episodes of everyday life while time passes by.”

Opening with “Immortal”, a fairly standard foray into Power Metal territory, completely with keyboard flourishes and choral support on the choruses. Slightly restrained against the bass-heavy rhythmic approach, the guitars lurk in the background. This decent opener is thoroughly eclipsed by the following track “Spread Your Fire”, which opens with an amazing dual drum and bass assault, with skinsman Cristiano Battini and bassist Santo Clemenzi playing like they are the last surviving warriors trying to stave off an army of attackers. Vocalist Raffaele “Raffo” Albanese comes in over the top of the Thrash-esque attack, until the rhythm drops into a thoroughly unexpected and delightful quiet guitar and vocal interlude. Easily the best song on a good album, “Spread Your Fire” is a unique and exciting piece of songcraft.

“Ten Years” is another song that strays from typical Power Metal fare, combining “fast and loud” sections with “quiet and slow”. If Battini and Clemenzi took center stage alongside the ever-dominant Raffo in “Spread Your Fire”, guitarist Allesandro Cattani and keyboardists Davide Castro and Andrea Di Paoli take over in “Ten Years”.

Other highlights of the album include “Hypnos”, a short spectral instrumental with a haunting theme, and “A Matter Of Time”:, which uses lush keyboard washes and interesting percussive effects to queue up a steadily building rhythm culminating in one of the most pyrotechnic guitar solos of the album following the first chorus. The second chorus gets an equally thrilling keyboard solo. “A Matter Of Time” is one of the many songs of the record employing a choir of voices to bolster the already strong vocal performance from Raffo.

The album closes with “Somewhere”, where Raffo drops his voice a register (until the final verse, where his voice cracks the sound barrier) and Allesandro turns up the vibrato in a song that manages to be both reflective and majestic at various points.

Combining exceptional production values, clever arrangements, top-flight vocals and crack instrumentation, Moments is sure to be a welcome gift to any fan of Italian Melodic Power Metal.