Very Impressive!
Mete Tanyeri | Somewhere, New Hampshire | 05/31/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have to admit, ITunes is my savior, especially when it comes to previewing a band's latest music or older records. I heard of Fairyland through an ad over on Blabbermouth and was curious to hear what they sounded like. Enter ITunes. I open up the program, go into the ITunes Store, search them out, and previewed a few tracks. It sounded very good, but would it do the trick? I had to admit, I downloaded the record, but only to find out whether or not I would be really into it. The good news is that I came away VERY impressed. So impressed, in fact, that I immediately ordered the record on amazon.com. This album is full of awesome talent, ranging from the keyboards to the amazing drum/bass playing, the amazing choruses sweeping left and right. Some of my personal favorites are Across The Endless Sea (Part II), A Soldier's Letter, and Godsent, but every track stands out in its own way. My least favorite would have to be Rise Of The Giants, but it's a brillant track and does its magic here. If you are a fan of symphonic power metal and are looking for a place to start, then I highly recommend this record!"
Philippe's Grand Concept A Masterpiece
C. M. Gillum | Michigan | 06/07/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Back in 2007 the band known as Fairyland parted ways even after a successful release of their second album Fall of an Empire and an equally successful tour with Kamelot and Leave's Eyes. But the story didn't end there as long time lead member of the group Philippe Giordana took the reigns all on his own and enlisting instead the services of guest musicians rather then seeking a new line-up for the band. In the long run this might have been a great turn of events for the music as a whole.
Score To A New Beginning doesn't stray far off the track from previous releases under the Fairyland banner and in my opinion simply improves their original sound and style. Philippe allowed his imagination to run rampant and what we get is an extremely adventurous, anthematic, epic Power Metal album with an onslaught of extremely gifted musicians contributing to the finished project.
Not many bands could build the climax that tracks such as "Across The Endless Sea Part II" unfolds to, let a lone one man. This one track shows the similar style of fast paced Power Metal backed by roaring leads and entrancing orchestral arrangements as other Fairyland releases but pushes the ideal further. Choir lead chorus' and even a Keyboard lead that strongly reminded me of Stratovarious turn this one track into an instant classic in the genre.
Philippe slows things down on "A Soldiers Letter" using classical piano, over powering bass and some very pleasant acoustic leads. Later on a track like "Godsent" we get a fairly standard Fairyland feel with straight forward fast paced Power Metal and little filler. The arrangements on each track are what set them apart and allow them to stand on their own. Some tracks make me think of pirates battling on the high seas while others bring to mind epic battles of knights and wizards defending against dragons, he truly captured a vivid landscape with this album.
However the track that stands above the rest easily is the epic just short of nine minute title track. The song captures every aspect of the album from the almost depressing lows to the anthematic highs, including one of the most addictive chorus' on the album and some of the finest leads I have heard under the Fairyland banner. The title track and the previously dissected "Across The Endless Sea Part II" are must hear tracks by fans of the Power & Progressive Metal genre's.
All in all Score To A New Beginning is a powerful release that should (at least in my opinion) solidify this band's place among the best of the best of this style of music. The chorous' remind me of Blind Guardian's classic Nightfall in Middle-Earth while the faster paced style of the guitars and drums isn't far off from the Power Metal poster boy's Kamelot's amazing The Black Halo. This album is a must for all fans of Symphonic Metal and most importantly the fans of the Power & Progressive Metal genre's. Thank you fr reading and I hope my review interested you and ultimately encouraged you to purchase this amazing album. Thanks again."
Giordana's Genius Realized
Craig Nebalski | Boston, MA | 09/14/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"With the first two albums, Fairyland was, well, fairly lame (bah-zing!). Barring cheap jokes though, they were actually decent enough, but ultimately forgettable amongst power metal giants like Rhapsody of Fire, Sonata Arctica, Symphony X, etc. However, I kept a keen eye on the band because I saw huge amounts of potential there, which I knew had to one day be realized. Well, after The Fall of an Empire, Phil Giordana (the composer and overall Fairyland mastermind) decided to do away with the whole "band" rubbish and instead enlisted a freakin' army of guest musicians. Enter the most appropriately named album ever.
Score to a New Beginning is a full* realization of Giordana's abilities. Whereas the prior two albums were samey, hookless, and a bit monotone, StaNB explodes with huge orchestra sections, catchy and booming choruses, several vocalists, some truly rockin' keyboard riffs, an oh-so-satisfyingly smooth flow, and variety, variety, variety. This album really has everything, yet it knows when to stop. (I'm looking at you, Nightwish.)
*As ridiculously impressive the whole of the album is, it's the conclusion that will blow you away. The title track, a nine minute epic (coincidentally the 9th track), is by far the highlight; it is everything a symphonic/power metal epic should be. But this remarkable conclusion doesn't comprise of just this track alone: it's the 8th and 10th as well, which serve as a prologue and epilogue. These last three tracks share unique sounds, instruments, and musical influences not found elsewhere on the album, and the result is a much fuller, broader experience that, once the album's finished, makes you dying to hear where he goes next. So I use the asterisk because, as much of a masterpiece this may be (it's no doubt HIS masterpiece), these last three songs suggest that we have much, much more in store from Giordana.
With this album and this album alone, there is now a new kid in town. If things go as I think they should (and I was right once!), you'll soon be hearing Fairyland's name probably more than you'll want to, since it's still a pretty awful one. At least they got the album name right.
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Track Listings (10) - Disc #1