Frontiers Records, the Italian label that brought back many of the 80’s hard rock bands and artists we love including the likes of Warrant, Night Ranger, Stephen Pearcy, Jack Russell’s Great White, and House Of Lords, has also done a good job introducing the world to a variety of different hard rock and metal acts from all over the world.
Labÿrinth is an Italian power metal band that has been around since the early 90’s. The band which originates from the Tuscany region of Italy has played a virtual musicians’ musical chairs with members coming in and out of the band since its formation.
The one consistent factor among all of these changes is that each release the band puts out seems to be held in the highest regard by fans and critics alike. In short, no matter the musicians that were in the band at the time, they delivered quality music that both the fans and critics were into.
In 2016, after a 6-year hiatus, the band’s founding members and guitar players Andrea Cantarelli and Olaf Thorsen received a call from Frontiers asking them to discuss with vocalist Roberto Tiranti the possibility of getting the band back together. The result was a new line-up rounded out by drummer extraordinaire John Macaluso (TNT, Riot, Ark etc.), Oleg Smirnoff (Vision Divine, Edritch) on keyboards, and Nik Mazzucconi on bass. Labÿrinth is back with a superb self-produced album, Architecture of a God, mixed by DGM’s Simone Mularoni.
Architecture of a God will be the 11th studio release (3 EPs and 8 full-length albums) for the band. The time off did not seem to affect the band in the least, as this album is a wall of powerful sound finding its way out of my speakers at an alarming volume.
The lead-off track “Bullets” showcases the huge sound and exploding guitar fireworks throughout. Songs like “Take On My Legacy” enter into thrash territory at times with an opening riff that damn near rips off your head, while other songs such as “A New Dream” and “Diamond” slow things down and show a different musical side to the band.
Labÿrinth has returned to the power metal scene and they were thoughtful enough to bring with them a well-textured album in the form of Architecture of a God for all their power metal-hungry fans to feast upon. Eat up kiddies and enjoy!!
As always my friends, no matter your taste, go out and support live and recorded Rock ‘n’ Roll music.
Steven Michael
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