After the first listen to this release I was left thinking “where do I start?". I will say straightaway that this album left me smiling and feeling thoroughly entertained and I'm going to quote some of the release information to help get across what this release is about.

“Progressive metal band Anthropia’s phantasmagorical first installment of its epic three-part musical sojourn is in a word spellbinding. The ten track cliff-hanger “The Ereyn Chronicles part1” beckons us to enter a world of fierce seafaring dragons, ancient lost knowledge, mercenary barbarians and a search for self discovery across multi dimensional barriers. Fusing guitar driven hard rock, symphonic and classical interludes and thickly populated Tolkienesque plot twists. This truly towering effort is the very essence of progressive metal grandeur in the 21st century”

The creator behind this release is amiable French man Hugo who does vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards and arrangements. The powerhouse that is Damien Rainaud handles drums. Hugo created this epic album but he has also mixed it and produced it with engineer Willdric Lievein and they have done a fantastic job. The Sonics of the album are meaty and crisp and the whole album rocks big style.

Opening track “Welcome To Ereyn” is a symphonic beginning par excellence. It eases us into snippets of vocals, which build nicely into “Question Of Honour". This track is just magnificent and is driven along relentlessly by Damien Rainaud's drumming. It's chock full of glorious melody and inventive riffing. It sounds modern but has the classic rock sensibilities of Iron Maiden in full stride. A glorious neo-classical, metal guitar solo had me up and punching the air and cranking up the volume.

Next up is “Lords Of A Word” and it has a great riff at its heart. It's almost Jimmy Page and Tony Iommi blended together. We get walls of vocals that Freddie mercury would be proud of and lovers of galloping metal rhythms reminiscent of Helloween will be in seventh heaven.

“Through The Sleeping Seaweed” has a nice sinister opening which leads us into a nice dark, symphonic metal groove. Hugo shows us his prowess as an inventive metal guitar soloist treating the listener to some lovely solo passages. The song has a nice acoustic breakdown in the middle, which lets the listener catch his breath, but Hugo soon gets back on his rocking horse. This song is a riffmeisters dream.

“Forgotten” has great acoustic playing at its start but it’s not long before we're rocking again. Superb fluid guitar lines drip like molten metal from Hugo's fingers. This track has everything lovers of progressive metal will ever want.

“Lion Snake” sees guest vocals from Marie-Eve Orengo. This track has lovely textures and mixes rock, metal and folk to wonderful effect." Where Secrets Lie” had me thinking if genesis had been a heavy metal band maybe they could have come up music like this. This track is again adorned with superb progressive metal guitar soloing.

“Walk Among The Ruins” leads into the insanity that is “ In The Maze Of A Nightmare". Guitars and drums lock horns and the song grooves big time. The song has moments of light and shade and dizzying changes in time signature. The album closes with “The Desert Of Jewels” a melodic but dark finale. A fantastic mixture of acoustic moments blended with relentless riffs and inventive musical passages. The song has a spectacular solo guitar finale which could best be described a s a metal waltz. It is a beautiful and sophisticated musical interlude, which leads us into the metal gallop to the vocal climax of the album.

Hopefully if you have read this review this far you will have gathered that I’m really impressed with this release. I've concentrated on musical content and performance and haven't even touched on the storyline. The album is paced perfectly and the quality is high from beginning to end. If you like the power and aggression of bands like Iron Maiden, Rush, Dream Theater and Metallica but also like the vision and sophistication of metal in the vein of Pain Of Salvation, Savatage, Rhapsody and Ayreon you will love this album.

Hugo has given us an album which one senses has been a labour of love and which he has poured his “metal heart and soul“ into. If parts 2 & 3 have the energy, creativity and overall quality of part 1 then I think we have a new Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon) in the making and I mean that as a huge compliment. I urge all lovers of hard rock/metal to give this release a try, as it deserves recognition and acclaim. In this genre it stands towering over all similar releases.

Let us know your views on 'The Ereyn Chronicles'

Track List

Welcome To Ereyn
Question Of Honor
Lords Of A World
Through The Sleeping Seaweed
Forgotten
Lion-Snake
Where The Secrets Lie
The Walk Among The Ruins
In The Maze Of A Nightmare
The Desert Of Jewels

Line Up

Hugo - Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards
Damien Rainaud - Drums