Review: Overtures – Artifacts

Sleaszy Rider Records (2016)

Reviewer: Dan Mann

Overtures are another band I somehow have missed along the way such is the multitude of material and bands these days. Artifacts I discover is in fact the band’s third album release, following on after 2010’s Rebirth and 2013’s Entering the Maze.

The band hail from Italy, and are firmly ensconced in the progressive metal arena with a song construct which will be familiar to fans of the genre.

From the opening bars of ‘Repentance‘ the maturity of the band is obvious, both from the musicianship through to the production. Title track ‘Artifacts‘ is enjoyable apart from the death metal like vocal interlude half way through, but together with the following track ‘Gold‘ it probably rates as one of my favourites on the album. Pounding drums, wailing guitars and a bass line fit to wobble your drink off the table, it’s everything that progressive metal should be.

To sum up, certainly an album worth checking out and I shall be checking out their previous two releases into the bargain!