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Nick Savio formed Hollow Haze in 2003. Ten years has passed and their fifth studio album 'Countdown to Revenge' is here. Hollow Haze is a new acquaintance for me, and a very strong and pompous one, because they have "Nightbreeder and the Wintermoon Orchestra" beside them on this disc. On this new album Hollow Haze has recruited a new singer; Fabio Lione (Rhapsody of Fire), has been chosen to take care of the work at the microphone. The bands hails from Vicenza, Italy and has been on tour with Tarja a couple years ago and want to take another path with this new album. Well, how does this album taste? Modern half-progressive metal blended with the classic Maiden rythms, but with violins and the powerful, heavy and symphonic support from the orchestra, which results in a tasty hour of music. Not as bombastic as I expected when I read about the support from Wintermoon orchestra. They have put their own instrumental efforts in the front row and the darker riffs are sounding clearer than the majestic symphonic backing. Dave Cestaro - bass and Camillo Colleluori - percussion and their rock solid performance is important to the progressive touch in Hollow Haze's metal. 'Watching In Silence' is a full blown progressive metal track. Technical guitars and the breath-taking tempo is the memorable thing in 'Still Alive'. The songs are between 5-9 minutes long and most of them demands several listenings to get completely into the head. Amazing production and worldclass quality in the sound drives the rating up. The biggest star in the band is of course the brain; Nick Savio and his string work!! Top class in every fucking track... Fabio Lione will be 40 in October and he doesn't show any signs of him having his best days behind himself, no just a clear and strong vocal effort in all tunes. He joined Kamelot's world tour when Roy Kahn left in the end of 2010. He did a short guest apperance with Angra at the 70000 tons of metal festival. I hope that his countrymen can keep this golden voice in the band, because this sounds awesome!! A very exiting and promising album for all fans of melodic, progressiv metal. | ||||||||||||||||||
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