Review: Secret Sphere - A Time Never Come (re-release)

Original translation from http://www.wingsofdeath.net/Secret-Sphere-A-Time-Never-Come

After I got their previous album Portrait of a Dying Heart in my to-do list for WingsofDeath, the Italian group Secret Sphere has conquered a permanent place in my regular playlist. Now they thought it was time, like several other bands this year (seriously, is 2015 THE year of album anniversaries and re-releases?)  to rerecord their second album A Time Never Come, but now with the current line up with the fantastic voice of Michele Lupi at the helm.

The original A Time Never Come marked the breakthrough of Secret Sphere back in 2001, and is appraised as one of the highlights of the euro-power metal scene it it’s day. Unfortunately I never got to hear the original, so that’s why I’m ever so glad that I get a second chance now with a whole new sound to it.

From the first ‘real’ song of the album; Legend, it already appears that they stay true to the sound of the early zeroes. Stratovarius-esque keyboard tunes that were so popular back than are omnipresent, but the deep guitars that are rumbling underneath definitely got a modern upgrade. The whole thing breathes nostalgia but sounds fresh and new at the same time. That’s quite an accomplishment!

This album contains quite some mini-epics. We rage along to the seven minute long song Under The Flag of Mary Read, that contains a heavenly piece of vocal masturbation (gotta love them canons!). Other than that this one also has this great 2001 era powermetal feeling but still bright and intuitive.

The next mini-epic The Brave (again counting seven minutes) flutters between fast aggressive and euphoric, happy tunes, with a peculiar open ending with some dry vocals.

After two long songs it’s now time for something smaller, that is Emotions; which is a very atmospheric and interesting piece if instrumental music, that with a some kind of strange announcement opens the way for Oblivion. This one is also quite epic at some points, with a sense of adventure, with fantastic guitar solos and subtle orchestral elements behind it all, it fades way to another peculiar ending to Lady of Silence. A little bit slower and straightforward but with a proggy feeling here and there. The cadence on the drums underlining the chorus is subtle but very addicting!

Mystery of Love is a great ballad in a way that only Secret Sphere can create. Beginning quite humble but eventually it grows to a full sounding song with roaring guitar solos, dramatic keys-violin and a good dose of Italian passion. What follows is an intermezzo called Paganini’s Nightmare. This one flashes by gruelingly fast but it’s definitely very interesting!

Hamelin is a in-your-face powerclassic with a classical touch. Think; Yngwie Malmsteen. This one also fades out to the last intermezzo called Ascension. This one indeed sounds very dark and gloomy and I suddenly get the feeling I am sitting in a very tight space, ascending into something very ominous. What awaits down there is Dr. Faustus, the last mini-epic that fills 8 minutes worth of threatening tunes and solo’s that sound like and absolute boss!

I can really say that we got quite a unique album here, although it has been released twice. I don’t come across something with such and own atmosphere and theme like on this absolute jewel of an album very often, and I can certainly state that this record is a highlight of the genre, both on it’s initial release in 2001 as nowadays. I really have to check out that original version sometime..