It was in this webzine’s infancy that I had the pleasure of reviewing Archon Angel’s debut album, Fallen. Assembled by Frontiers Records (like all great supergroups these days), Archon Angel is spearheaded by veteran guitarist Aldo Lonobile and 90s Savatage vocalist Zak Stevens. Their debut, unsurprisingly, drew heavily from Stevens’s stint with the prog metal legends, emphasizing dramatic songs, powerful vocals, and atmospheric keys. Upon repeated listens, I accepted it as the next best thing to Savatage, and patiently awaited a follow up, which in today’s world of uncertainty, is never promised.
Lo and behold, good things come to those who wait! Archon Angel are back with yet another thrilling slab of classic metal, entitled II. It should be noted, however, that while II is a successor to Fallen in name and concept (The gnostic themed lyrics remain ever present.), it is musically a far more diverse affair. Whereas Fallen followed the Edge of Thorns template to a T, II expands the band’s sonic palette to the point where it isn’t purely a progressive metal release, but rather a heavy metal release that veers towards prog metal, power metal, symphonic metal, and all those other subgenres Savatage had a hand in shaping.
The compositions on this album are much more straightforward, and as a result, so is Lonobile’s riffing and soloing. Cuts like “Quicksand” and “One Last Reflection” recall not just the powerful muscle of Hall of the Mountain King era Savatage, but also Judas Priest and Helloween, with their energetic riffing and powerful delivery. On the contrast are songs like “Fortress” and “I Will Return”, which can best be described as Savatage gone Frontiers style melodic metal. This description may or may not turn off purists, but I implore you to give it a fair shot. With Alessandro Del Vecchio now in the fold, I can’t help but think he contributed some of the earworm hooks heard throughout this album.
“Away From the Sun” and “Shattered” meld this aforementioned melodic metal with certain prog sensibilities, without veering too far off the technical deep end. Meanwhile, the heavy handed riffing of “Afterburn” can impartially be branded as pseudo-groove metal. Yes, you read that correctly. For those wondering, “Where are the Savatage-isms?”, fear not. Whether it be the bombastic “Wake of Emptiness”, aggressive “Avenging the Dragon”, or triumphant “Lake of Fire”, there’s no shortage of Savatage-esque moments scattered about without coming off as a rehash.
Amazingly enough (or perhaps not considering the talent of this star-studded project), II manages to be as compelling and memorable of a release as its predecessor. Lonobile’s growth as a songwriter and musician within this band shows immensely, and Stevens delivers a knockout performance as always, sounding as fresh and invigorated as he did on Edge of Thorns 30 years ago. I’m not sure what fountain of youth type potion he’s drinking, but whatever it is, I want some of it in hopes I’ll sound maybe half as good. At the current rate of things, there may be a new Savatage album before a third Archon Angel album…then again, maybe not. I’ll be grateful for whatever comes first!
8 out of 10
Label: Frontiers Records
Genre: Heavy Metal
For fans of: Savatage, Judas Priest, Helloween