Cyrax "Pictures"

Country: Italy
Genre(s): Progressive Metal
Label: Bakerteam Records
Format: CD
Release date:  March 31, 2015
Tracklist: 
1. Cyrax (5:05)
2. The 7th Seal (5:59)
3. Cockroach (3:43)
4. These Greenvalleys (4:11)
5. Oedipus Rex (4:06)
6. Shine Through Darkness pt. I (7:22)
7. Shine Through Darkness pt. II (3:36)
8. Shine Through Darkness pt. III (3:39)
9. Phunkrax (2:55) (bonus)

Line-up: 
Marco Cantoni - Lead Vocals
Filippo Ferrari - Lead and Rhythm Guitar
Paolo Musazzi - Lead and Rhythm Guitar/Synth Programming
Cesare Ferrari - Bass Guitar
Lorenzo Beltrami - Drums
Larsen Premoli - Keyboards
Gianmarco Giuseppe Andreoli - Violin
Giacomo Molteni - Cello
Evelyn Iuliano - Lead and Backing Vocals
Viola Barinotti - Backing Vocals
Antonio Pecere - Backing Vocals
Claudia Pinzello - Backing Vocals
Cristina Paschina - Backing Vocals

Description/Reviews: 

While the "heavy metal" is apparent, it's not the first thing you might notice in Cyrax's musical equation. Notable is the extensive and varied use of keyboards, from quirky and innovative synths to the significant piano presence. Both can be found in the song Cyrax, which expresses the band's raison d'etre. However, the keyboard solo in the first half sounds like ducks farting underwater. The piano often adds a subtle even delicate nuance to a largely heavier number as in the later third of Shine Through Darkness Part I. Then at the start of Part II, the synths turn to the sound of harpsichord. If you're piano and synth fan, Larsen Premoli will give you a large and entertaining lesson in their creative use.
A second thing of interest is the large use of classical music elements in nearly every song. I'm not talking about the huge use of keys to create some bombastic symphonic canvas (like Rhapsody of Fire, for instance). Cyrax uses both violin and cello, along with some choral vocals and piano, to steal lines traditional classical music.

 Read the full review by Craig Hartranft at dangerdog.com

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