┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │■ ■│ │ .-/ .-. │ │ _.-~ / ___ | ~-._ │ │ \:/ -~| / __/| .\:/ │ │ / || (:/:| \ │ │ / /\/| |:\___\| |\ \ │ │ / /:::|.::/:::/:.|:\ \ │ │ / /:::/ \\/:::/::/:::\ \ │ │ / .::\ \-~~~~-/\/:.. \ │ │ /..:::::\ /:::::..\ │ │ /::::::::- -::::::::\ │ │ \:::::-~ ~-:::::/ │ │ \:-~ ~-:/ │ │ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ P R E S E N T S │ │ │ │ │ │ + Arion - Life Is Not Beautiful-(AFM 695-9) + │ │ │ │ │ │╔═════════════════════╗ │ │║ Release Information ║ │ │╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Release Date.nov-04-2018 Encoder......L3.98.4 -V0 --lowpas ║ │ │║ Genre........Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │ │║ Year.........2018 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Ripper.......anthem Songs........12 ║ │ │║ Covers.......Yes Url... n/a ║ │ │║ ║ │ │╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │╔═════════════════════╗ │ │║ Release Notes ║ │ │╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Artist : Arion Rating : You Decide! ║ │ │║ Album : Life Is Not Beautiful-(AFM 695-9)el : AFM ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ║ │ │╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Description : ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ In 2014 the power metal act Arion released their ║ │ │║ debut album ôLast Of Usö, which was an instant ║ │ │║ hit on the Finnish metal scene. The album was an ║ │ │║ up-to-date version of the Finnish power metal we ║ │ │║ all have come to love over the years, ║ │ │║ reminiscing of acts like Stratovarius and Sonata ║ │ │║ Arctica. In 2016 the band released two singles ║ │ │║ for their upcoming sophomore album to introduce ║ │ │║ us to their new singer Lassi VΣΣrΣnen, but after ║ │ │║ a few bumps on the road, the band was only ready ║ │ │║ to release ôLife Is Not Beautifulö, October ║ │ │║ 2018. Four years have passed since ôLast Of Usö, ║ │ │║ and it leaves me the question whether ôLife Is ║ │ │║ Not Beautifulö is a worthy follow up for its ║ │ │║ predecessor? ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ôLife Is Not Beautifulö opens with a beautifully ║ │ │║ enchanting atmospheric intro track ôThe End Of ║ │ │║ The Fallö. Picking up where they left off. ║ │ │║ Literally, as the last track on ôLast Of Usö was ║ │ │║ called ôWatching You Fallö. Moreover, the last ║ │ │║ notes of the debut album, smoothly transition ║ │ │║ into ôLife Is Not Beautifulö. Listening to both ║ │ │║ albums on a loop is possible and even ║ │ │║ recommendable! I really enjoy how the band ║ │ │║ revised the outro on the debut album and ║ │ │║ welcomed it with open arms into the sophomore ║ │ │║ album. ItÆs like the band is making us clear ║ │ │║ that this is where the story continues and we ║ │ │║ get introduced with that with ôNo One Stands In ║ │ │║ My Wayö. A song that has been previously ║ │ │║ released before and an energetic and powerful ║ │ │║ start to the album. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Now, letÆs talk about the elephant in the room. ║ │ │║ A new vocalist often causes a lot of different ║ │ │║ opinions, some people hate, some people love, ║ │ │║ but I personally think they made a good choice ║ │ │║ with Lassi VΣΣrΣnen. His voice puts the power in ║ │ │║ power metal, but there are also moments on this ║ │ │║ album where we see another side of him. But ║ │ │║ letÆs not get ahead of ourselves. The previously ║ │ │║ released singles all have been ones that stick ║ │ │║ around for a while longer in your head, ôNo One ║ │ │║ Stands In My Wayö was like that as well. Very ║ │ │║ catchy, powerful and somehow interestingly ║ │ │║ motivational. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Next up is one of ArionÆs biggest hits ôAt The ║ │ │║ Break Of Dawnö featuring Elize Ryd of Amaranthe. ║ │ │║ This is a song that has been playing a lot on ║ │ │║ Radio Rock and is also one of those songs that ║ │ │║ will make you bang your head and sing along ║ │ │║ loudly. Moreover, surprisingly LassiÆs voice ║ │ │║ blends in very beautifully with ElizeÆs voice. ║ │ │║ Personally, I actually think Elize thrives in a ║ │ │║ power metal environment and itÆs a song like ║ │ │║ this where you can really tell how much of a ║ │ │║ good singer she really is. The song has ║ │ │║ everything that makes it a complete success, ║ │ │║ great riffs, atmospheric keyboards, an energetic ║ │ │║ chorus, and an epic guitar solo. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Finally, we are served with a brand new song ║ │ │║ ôThe Last Sacrificeö. This song specifically, ║ │ │║ reminds me of their debut album. With heroic ║ │ │║ guitar riffs, those beautiful harmonies between ║ │ │║ the vocals and backing vocals, epic solo work ║ │ │║ and enchanting orchestrations. This is a classic ║ │ │║ Arion track. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ôThrough Your Falling Tearsö allows the first ║ │ │║ break in the album. The beautiful ballad shows a ║ │ │║ different side of LassiÆs vocals and proves that ║ │ │║ his clean vocals are outstanding. The ballad ║ │ │║ inserts some time for breathing before what I ║ │ │║ still believe is my favorite track of the album ║ │ │║ ôUnforgivableö. This song has been in my ║ │ │║ playlist for a while now and whenever it pops ║ │ │║ up, I get equally excited. In an environment ║ │ │║ like this VΣΣrΣnen shines with great power and ║ │ │║ energy. ôUnforgivableö is a multi-layered song, ║ │ │║ that really has that big sound. There is a lot ║ │ │║ to the song, subtle keyboards that create a ║ │ │║ perfect atmosphere, catchy riffs, and excellent ║ │ │║ rhythms. ôUnforgivableö is the whole package ║ │ │║ that shows the talent of the band as a whole. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Latest single ôPunish Youö follows up the energy ║ │ │║ that awoke us in ôUnforgivableö. It might be the ║ │ │║ most aggressive track that Arion has ever ║ │ │║ released. I specifically like the drum parts in ║ │ │║ this song, which take it to a new level, ║ │ │║ especially in the intro and the verses. This ║ │ │║ heavier style is definitely something the band ║ │ │║ should potentially explore more in the future. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ôLife Is Not Beautifulö continues in the same ║ │ │║ style. A bit heavier and more aggressive, but it ║ │ │║ contains the heart and soul of the debut album ║ │ │║ and the same catchiness that many of these songs ║ │ │║ on the new album offer. I understand why this ║ │ │║ song was chosen as the title track. ôLife Is Not ║ │ │║ Beautifulö is the longest track on the album, ║ │ │║ the first part of it is very powerful, gets ║ │ │║ interrupted by a strong and powerful, heavy-ass ║ │ │║ riff and goes through a rhythmic change, ║ │ │║ continues smoothly with acoustic guitars, ║ │ │║ building up towards, a compelling guitar solo, ║ │ │║ of course, before it bursts out in the chorus ║ │ │║ again. With its structure and length, the song ║ │ │║ is perhaps the most complex one on the album, ║ │ │║ but it has been done masterfully. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ When I thought I couldnÆt get more surprised, I ║ │ │║ was wrong. The album ends with the emotional ║ │ │║ ballad ôLast One Fallsö, which leaves me only ║ │ │║ with one question: Lassi, is this you? We are ║ │ │║ introduced to a completely new side of the ║ │ │║ vocals. His voice is deep, warm and melancholic ║ │ │║ at the same time, reminding me of Ville Valo. A ║ │ │║ bold choice to leave as the last song, but it ║ │ │║ totally works. Listening to the album for the ║ │ │║ first time, the song left me confused wondering ║ │ │║ what just had happened. The deep clean vocals go ║ │ │║ really well with the atmosphere that is being ║ │ │║ built up throughout the whole song. The song ║ │ │║ concludes a series of songs that feel like a ║ │ │║ battle, up until indeed the last one falls, ║ │ │║ where melancholy rules over the fields with a ║ │ │║ million bodies. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ IÆm left with a bunch of emotions. This album is ║ │ │║ so versatile and diverse. It shows us how the ║ │ │║ band has grown and matured more in their ║ │ │║ songwriting. ôLife Is Not Beautifulö gave us ║ │ │║ some classic songs from the new generation of ║ │ │║ power metal. It also gave us some very catchy, ║ │ │║ hit songs and a lot of surprises. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ In general, I was a bit worried we would be left ║ │ │║ with the 5 songs released and then some filler ║ │ │║ material. This, however, was not the case at ║ │ │║ all. All these songs are strong, masterfully ║ │ │║ crafted and refreshing, showing us that there is ║ │ │║ a new generation of power metal bands out there ║ │ │║ who will take over the torch one day. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ If there is one thing, however, that I found a ║ │ │║ bit of a shame in the whole album is the vocal ║ │ │║ production in some of the tracks. Sometimes, ║ │ │║ most noticeably during the choruses, the vocals ║ │ │║ are buried behind a wall of keyboards and guitar ║ │ │║ riffs, for example in ôNo One Stands In My Wayö ║ │ │║ or in ôLife Is Not Beautifulö. What also is a ║ │ │║ bit unfortunate, is that more than half of the ║ │ │║ album was already released beforehand. Four ║ │ │║ years between an album is a lot of silence, so I ║ │ │║ get that the band also tried to hand their fans ║ │ │║ something new, but it makes the album feel like ║ │ │║ more of an EP. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ These small things aside, I can really recommend ║ │ │║ ôLife Is Not Beautifulö to anyone who likes ║ │ │║ power metal, but it doesnÆt exclude other ║ │ │║ listeners to enjoy this album. ThereÆs a little ║ │ │║ bit for everyone. Some of the songs are leaning ║ │ │║ more towards a poppy heavy metal drowning in ║ │ │║ catchiness, but the album also has two classic ║ │ │║ power metal songs and two beautiful ballads. ║ │ │║ Going back to my question if the album is a ║ │ │║ worthy follow up I can answer it with a definite ║ │ │║ yes. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Review taken from www.tuonelamagazine.com ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Lassi VΣΣrΣnen - Vocals ║ │ │║ Topias Kupiainen - Drums ║ │ │║ Iivo Kaipainen - Guitars ║ │ │║ Georgi "Gege" Velinov - Bass ║ │ │║ Arttu Vauhkonen - Keyboards ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ║ │ │╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │╔═════════════════════╗ │ │║ Release Tracklist ║ │ │╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │ │ │ │ 01 - The End Of The Fall [02:03] │ │ 02 - No One Stands In My Way [03:57] │ │ 03 - At The Break Of Dawn [03:34] │ │ 04 - The Last Sacrifice [06:33] │ │ 05 - Through Your Falling Tears [04:14] │ │ 06 - Unforgivable [03:41] │ │ 07 - Punish You [04:24] │ │ 08 - Life Is Not Beautiful [06:43] │ │ 09 - Last One Falls [04:30] │ │ 10 - Last Of You (2018 Version) (Bonus Track) [04:48] │ │ 11 - Seven (2018 Version) (Bonus Track) [04:59] │ │ 12 - I Am The Storm (2018 Version) (Bonus Track [04:30] │ │ │ │ Total Length : [53:56 minn │ │ │ │ │ │ ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ╔═════════════════════╗ │ │ ║ Greetings To: ║ │ │ ╚═════════════════════╝ │ │ │ │ Too all people who contributes to make this │ │ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │■ ■│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘