Valhalore – “Beyond the Stars” | Progressive Rock Central.com

Valhalore – Beyond The Stars was released on April 11th of this year, on Rock of Ages Records, under the Reigning Phoenix music label. Valhalore is Australia’s premier symphonic, folk, metal band. Hailing from their home city of Brisbane.

Beyond The Stars is Valhalore’s sophomore studio album. Valhalore was founded by guitarist Anthony Willis and vocalist Lachlan Neate. The band has an incredibly diverse and talented assemblage of musicians who can cover a unique blend of melodic death, power, and symphonic metal, infused with folk influences. The potential of this band is way beyond the horizon.

Valhalore is made up of members: Anthony Willis, on guitars; Lachlan Neate, on vocals, cello, and mandolin; Sophie Christensen, on wind instruments; Morgan Cox, on drums; Lucas Fisher, on guitars and vocals; and Joseph Dipisa-Fiorenza, on bass.

However, now for the disclaimer. I am absolutely no fan of male growling vocals, so this band will never make me a fan. But I can appreciate the intense folk and symphonic metal side of this album. I will never enjoy or even understand why anyone would want to hear someone growling intensely into a mic as a form of musical enjoyment. I understand the inclusion of growls in a story line, for a short period, to spell out a point or emotion, or as part of a villain in a story. But growls for the sake of growling, as a backing or constant lead vocal to me, is absolutely useless and diluting of the musical power of a talented band, like this, for me. And by the way, Led Zeppelin, AC-DC, Aerosmith and so many other legends never had growls and sold millions of albums, and were considered some of the masters of hard rock and metal. If I had heard Robert Plant do growl vocals on a song, I would have laughed at him. I think a whole coliseum would have probably done the same and asked for their money back and left, mid-show.

In support of Beyond The Stars, Valhalore will embark on an Australian headlining tour, kicking off on May 16th in Sydney!

Now on to the review:

“Life”, opens with soft piano and a soundscape from beyond. Just what I had hoped for the whole album. The keyboard playing and synth effects are warm and enchanting. The perfect welcome, with flutes, strings and pipes. Why would you move from this to growls? I’ll never understand. An instrumental, no growls and one of the very best tracks on the album.

“Edge Of Forever”, also starts out with amazing racing keyboards, guitars, smashing drums, pipes and flutes abound, before the death metal growls sever the innovative talent being displayed. My ears turn off to the violent vocals and as an interested listener, I’m done with this song. Just wishing the song would end. They try to revive the song, with normal male vocals, but as Foreigner sang in ’77, “The Damage Is Done”. The all but perfect opening, of the first track has been shattered by the thunder of growls.

On the “The Storm”, the opening reminds me of Led Zeppelin, with soft acoustic guitar, flute and thunder. After the thunder, the pace picks up and so do the drums and electric guitars. But the flutes and pipes remain. Until that vicious, obnoxious growling begins. A potentially good song, turns into a comedy. There is a supporting video for this performance, but no thanks. Thankfully there are so many great Australian and other bands out there who don’t need this noise to ‘supplement’ their sound. The Kansas – like violin and string playing is too good to be relegated to this. The flute playing is drowned out by the growls. They try to end it with soft acoustic guitar, but its “Too Late for Love”, as Def Leppard said in ’83.

“Within The Fire”, opens with a guitar, drum and keyboard rushing forward soundscape. The growls return to claim another promising song. There is also a music video supporting this song. The chorus sings, “Words in anger can’t unite us”. If only they believed their lyrics.

“Dusk”, opens with beautiful, soft piano and strings. Please let this be the one that resists the temptation. And it ends as a warm instrumental and becomes another of the best songs on the album.

“Wayfinder”, opens with acoustic guitar, soft drums and flute. Oh please can we get two in a row without the shade drifter? Male vocals singing, “I walked through the valley of time. My wife, she stood by my side. I hoped to never leave her behind. But when I looked back she was gone. Long now have I clung to a hope. That I’ll someday return to that place. Warm arms for a heart growing cold. And a voice to remember my name. In the tales of my youth. I would marvel in awe. As a hero would conquer the day. The dark would dispel as they battle through hell. And their light would show them the way. In my journey of life no hero am I. I will falter and fail every day. When the dark overcomes me, and I stand ashamed. Still a hero to her I remain. In the times of my sorrow. I am not alone. And her heart will guide me home. If I fall on my knees she finds courage in me. This is love and I have to believe. At the end of my days when I lay my head down. As the light and my hair start to fade. With a smile in my eyes looking back. I can say in my hope I was never afraid”. An almost Ayreon level song. Full of wonderful music and a soundscape that shines bright. The best song on the album. And oh my…yes they can make it through without a growl! Halleluiah!

“Dawn”, opens with river flowing sounds and soft acoustic guitar. Just what the doctor ordered. Please let them finish this album well. Pipes fill the air with the guitar continuing. Like an excerpt from the Lord of the Rings. The Shire. Yes, this band can perform magic!

On “Horizon” the soft presence of guitar, strings and pipes continues for a while, until the guitar and drum filled soundscape returns. There is a music video supporting this song. But don’t get excited. The growler is back, and so the plane heads towards a Pink Floyd, “Wall”, destiny crash on the surface of the Earth. Another song nearly demolished. The normal male and female choruses take over, hopefully for the rest of the album, if we are lucky.

“The World Between”, opens with heavy electric guitars, bass, keyboards and drums. A Dream Theater like sound. Until he returns and throws another song into the heap of junk pile.

“Aether”, opens again with promising snowflake like piano and then some soft acoustic strings. So much promise has been dashed already. I am leery of hope for this song. But this one ends up another wonderful, short, instrumental showcase of the talent of this band; if they ever move beyond the bravado.

“Heart Of The Sea”, is the best song on the album. It features the wonderful voice of Swiss musician, singer, songwriter and audio engineer, Anna Murphy. She is best known as the female lead vocalist of the Swiss folk metal band Eluveitie. A powerful song, full of awesome lyrics, set to a strong storyline. The growler returns but his presence cannot detract from this one. I absolutely could not understand his words making it easy to ignore his presence. The guitar soling is amazing! Please Valhalore, wake up and replace the growler with Anna Murphy.

Ok, we’ve reached the closer, “A Walk Among The Stars”. What will we get. It opens with soft guitar strings, then, the thunderous roar of the choruses and soundscape punch through. Pipes, flutes can still be heard. Normal male vocals leads us off, “Just one step across the edge. As I try to keep myself from falling. Close your eyes take a leap of faith. When you hear the sigh of darkness calling”. You and everyone in the world knows what’s coming. No surprise the growler returns to try to destroy yet another. However, the normal male vocals are back to try to save the day, “We all share a fear of dying. It’s a long and lonely road. We can spend our best years finding. And still not know which way to go. Faithful hearts say a prayer for peace. And a skeptic mind will say; we’re not going far. All I hope for is a sense of calm. And to someday walk among the stars”. Yes, calm, far away from the horror of death metal vocals. One last chance for redemption remains, the normal male vocal closes with this, “As I sink myself into the silence. The air leaves my lungs, my words leave my tongue and my heart escapes all thoughts of violence. And in my darkest hour as I fall alone. You hold my hand and guide me home”. Yes, please guide this band beyond the act of growling to gain more fans.

Valhalore’s Beyond The Stars opened with such promise, besides reading the recognition they received from other media. However, they gave a huge part of the stage to the growler. Thankfully many of these songs are short. There exists so much potential for this band to expand their fan base, but they must change. And yes, maybe I should not have reviewed this album, after all. It did say a mix of death metal. But that can mean so many things these days. And I always want to keep an open mind to potential. Well, they won’t have to worry about another review from me, without changes. There are so many stellar bands with equally good talent out there in the world, that do not depend on growling vocals to sell their music. I am sorry Valhalore for reviewing Beyond The Stars. It is not a bad album, it just has major sections, which for me were either inaudible by choice or by sound. If you can’t recommend the majority of the songs on an album, you shouldn’t recommend it for others.

TRACK LISTING:
01 – Life – 2:46
02 – Edge Of Forever – 4:45
03 – The Storm – 5:26
04 – Within The Fire – 4:19
05 – Dusk – 0:49
06 – Wayfinder – 3:50
07 – Dawn – 1:14
08 – Horizon – 5:08
09 – The World Between – 5:11
10 – Aether – 2:28
11 – Heart Of The Sea (feat. Anna Murphy) – 6:24
12 – A Walk Among The Stars – 5:40

VALHALORE live:
16/05 Sydney – Crowbar
17/05 Melbourne – Howler
23/05 Brisbane – Crowbar
25/05 Gold Coast – Mo’s Desert Clubhouse