Heavy Maytal- Orga Mecha : "Humanity.exe"

 

This California band offers a sci-fi-themed take on power metal. The synth doubles up the guitar part to help paint this picture. Vocalist Melissa Pinion of Stygian Crown uses her head register more than expected to capture the metal yodel of old. In and of itself, this is not the most original thing I have heard, but they stir the elements in well enough for this to work. They also have all the shreddy riffs you might want from this kind of thing. When belting from her chest register, she does not have the power of her male counterparts, but perhaps that is just this song. 

The riffs are not just trying to be Judas Priest but also embrace the groove metal of the 90s. The more emotive tone her voice shifts into for " Idols and Gods" works better as it paints them less into the nostalgia corner. The chorus strikes me as a little underwhelming. There is something odd about her vocal style, like she sings behind the beat to create a bluesy feel at times. The synth accents are a juxtaposition to this. It is also a good example of how a mix can shift the entire genre of a sound, as they synth dominant mix makes it feel more prog. 

"Steel Mandible Swarm" has more of a rock feel. I think the vocals need more effects on them to blend in more with the synth sound.  At timeS like the varied influences being brought to the table gel better in some places. "Swords Held High" has a riff that carries a similar swing to "Walk."  When they lean in a darker direction, it works better than when they don't, but they are inconsistent in this regard. The second half of the song is loaded with shredding solos if you are into that kind of thing. There is more of an 80s synth sound applied to "The Persistent Age". Her vocals float over the songs rather than being punchy and locked in to create hooks, so they feel awkward in places. The vocals could have used more love in post-production. 

"Lathe of Heaven" has a more powerful chug to it. But the song loses focus some where around the guitar solo. So far, the sci-fi elements have been marginal, but they come more to the forefront on " Let This Be Your Final Battlefield." The last moves with more drive, though there is a great deal going on, but it also winks in the sci-fi direction they were trying to push this album toward. I appreciate the effort, even if the execution and production is spotty in places, mainly with the vocals, so I will give this one a 7.5. If you want weird proggy power metal and not too picky about vocals, this album is for you.