Kilmara, from Barcelona, have been around in one form or another for a quarter of a century, but, to this reviewer at least, they’ve never really looked like joining the power metal elite through albums like 2010’s Don’t Fear The Wolf or their last effort, Across The Realms of Time (2018). That could be set to change now as the band, now well ensconced in the Reigning Phoenix Music Camp, look to make the step up with a new album in the shape of Journey to the Sun.
Journey to the Sun is conceptualised around the arcade halls of the late eighties, capturing themes of first loves, unbreakable friendships, rivalries, defeats, and victory celebrations. This concept brings a nostalgic yet vibrant feel to the album, which features an excellent a production from Carles Salse, who also adds his guitar and synths skills to the band as a fully-fledged member, with mixing by Miguel Ángel Marchal, and mastering from Seeb Levermann. Thanks to the efforts of these guys, on standout cuts like Chances and Wildfire, Kilmara definitely sounds more current, more powerful, and heavier than ever with this new album. This is a significant evolution for Kilmara, both in terms of their musical style and thematic approach, and it points to a much brighter future for the band.
Everything about the release is a step up, apart from the incendiary guitar work of Jony Portillo, a truly top-drawer player who has always impressed and continues to do so here. Dani Ponce has settled in to the vocal position now and gives a very good account of himself behind the mic, whilst new drummer Eric Killer, like Salse, adds what might well be the consistent x-factor that the band has been looking for in order to make the step up.
Liberticide and An Even Whole are both notable and worthy of praise too, whilst the presence of Lost Horizon‘s Daniel Helman on Take Me Back suggests that the band are now moving in the right kind of circles in terms of peer recognition. Exciting times seem to be on the horizon, and this is certainly an album good enough to assist the band in their plans for eventual World Domination!
Journey To The Sun Releases on January 31st.
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