ASYLUM PYRE – Fifty Years Later

Asylum Pyre; the place where you burn the fools, this is the meaning behind the name of this French Melodic / Power Metal band. Although Fifty Years Later is the band’s second full length album, it should really be treated much like a debut. Their first album, Natural Instinct?, was released in 2009 and featured an extremely different sound and lead vocalist. The new singer, Chaos Heidi, produces a very powerful and energized presence into some very well composed songs. This rejuvenated version of Asylum Pyre is a great surprise to a growingly stagnant Power Metal scene this year.

Asylum Pyre was founded in 2005 by Johann Cadot (guitar) and Julien Peuch (bass). They went on to produce their first demo in 2007 which soon followed with their debut album in 2009. Cadot is the main composer and also performs many additional vocals as well. However, the ultimate ingredient of success to Asylum Pyre is the addition of vocalist Chaos Heidi. Although she was classically trained on piano and vocal, don’t be fooled, as Heidi performs 100% hard and Heavy Metal. She cites Iron Maiden as one of her biggest influences, and even has a side gig as vocalist of an Iron Maiden cover band.

The music on Fifty Years Later is extremely reminiscent of the classic sounds of Blind Guardian, Iced Earth, and Demons & Wizards. There is a surplus of emotionally charged vocals that drive each track. Chaos Heidi invokes an abundance of melodramatic excess into her vocals. Her forceful essence delivers the right amount of feeling to produce an adequate emotional experience for each song.

One of the most intensely emotional experiences on the album can be heard on the acoustic track “Fisherman’s Day.” This dramatic melody is quite reminiscent of Demons & Wizards’ “Fiddler On The Green” complete with a dark, classical guitar melody and overly saddened vocals. The song actually is a duet with Johann Cadot and Chaos Heidi and proves the elegance in the vocal ability of each.

The emotional level of each composition is extraordinarily heightened throughout the album. The songs are brilliantly written with many complex melodies. Even though the twin guitars are not the most prevalent feature, and at many times seemed to be overpowered by the vocals, it goes without notice simply because the songs are performed to such stylish precision. The track “These Trees” is a perfect example of a very simple melodic, Hard Rock song which has been taken to a completely new dimension because of the astounding vocals.

Fifty Years Later provides a very modern Melodic Power Metal sound. It’s an extremely enjoyable listen which involves a smooth, melodramatic, and enigmatic experience. As female fronted Metal continues to gain momentum and a wider fan base, Chaos Heidi will come out as a leader of this movement. Asylum Pyre is a grand trip through many types of Metal genres and will easily be accepted by all.