PROMISE LAND Promise Land -Demo (independent) 1998/2010 Promise Land - Harmony In Ruins (XNilo) 2014
1. In The Beginning (1:02)
2. Harmony In Ruins (3:21)
3. C.I.U. (6:06)
4. The Piper Illusion (4:13)
5. Leviathan's Voyage (2:33)
6. Before The Dawn (5:13)
7. Hiding Place (5:45)
8. Her Name (3:16)
9. Holy (4:09)
10. Eclipse (2:00)
11. Harmony In Ruins [Orchestration] (3:19)
12. Hiding Place [Instrumental] (5:45)
Several years ago I received a CD from Promise Land simply titled "demo". As I recall I stated that the band were "keyboard heavy progressive metal with a slight classical influence" and I also stated of that demo that "Promise Land may be force to be reckoned with." Indeed I was correct in that statement because this is a fantastic new release from Promise Land.
"Harmony in Ruins" is progressive and symphonic power metal. According to the band they perform, “orchestral cinematic metal (that is) modern, heavy, melodic, aggressive and orchestral/cinematic”. Indeed! Within the first couple of spins I was hearing similarities to Savatage albums like "Dead Winter Dead" or perhaps the Savatage-related Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The mix of heavy guitars, orchestration and neo-classical guitar solos is quite compelling from beginning to end. Vocalist Rod Kozikowski has a clean, mostly mid-range/ baritone vocal style that pulls it all together.
Lyrically Promise Land leaves little doubt about what they believe and the hope they want to offer their listeners. Songs like "Holy" and "C.I.U.", or Christ In Us, make it very clear that these guys are a band of Christians. Some of the songs revolve around somber themes such as human trafficking, suicide and other social issues from a Christian perspective. Songs like "Hiding Place" drip with emotion from the music, to the singing, to the lyrics.
I predicted in my first review that Promise Land will be a force to be reckoned with and it looks like these guys are intent on proving me correct with "Harmony in Ruins".
|