THE NIGHTMARE STAGE – When The Curtain Closes

THE NIGHTMARE STAGE - When The Curtain Closes
  • 7.5/10
    THE NIGHTMARE STAGE - When The Curtain Closes - 7.5/10
7.5/10

Summary

Pure Steel Records
Release date: March 24, 2019

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User Review
7/10 (1 vote)

The Nightmare Stage’s second album When The Curtain Closes is an unexpectedly solid Progressive Power Metal release from the relatively new American outfit. The sound is what you would expect given the theme of the band. Church organs and exotic orchestral sections underlie the standard metal guitar onslaught. The highlight of When The Curtain Closes is Scott Oliva’s face-melting vocal performance. The power of his voice is seemingly limitless. “Dark Skies” in particular, features several gritty, brain-exploding high notes. It’s nice to hear someone in today’s scene that finds the perfect middle ground between rasp and clean power.

Where the album falters is in the production department. Some of the guitar tones sound very artificial and stiff. Overall the album has a sort of “grunting” sound to it instead of the polished crispness that most modern Power Metal albums achieve.

Still, even with a somewhat early 2000s sounding production vibe, the songs and performances within are able to overcome any technical shortcomings. When The Curtain Closes will be an excellent listen for fans of Prog Metal, Power Metal, Thrash, and the like.

TUNE INTO METALEXPRESSRADIO.COM at NOON & MIDNIGHT (EST) / 6:00 & 18:00 (CET) TO HEAR THE BEST TRACKS FROM THIS UPCOMING RELEASE!!!

Author

  • Maxxxwell Carlisle

    Maxxxwell was a reviewer and the host of The Maxed Out Metal Hour here on Metal Express Radio. He is the current lead guitarist for LA based metal veterans Hellion. In addition to his ongoing role in Hellion, he has also released 5 albums as a solo artist and appeared as a guest writer and soloist on Michael Angelo Batio's Intermezzo album, named one of the Top 5 shred albums of 2014 by Guitar World Magazine. He continues to collaborate with various Metal musicians and teaches guitar technique and Metal composition via Skype. Additionally, he is a former competitive bodybuilder and enjoys a lifestyle based around health, fitness and Metal.

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