Avian - Ashes And Madness
Nightmare Records
Melodic Heavy Metal
10 songs (54:32)
Release year: 2008
Nightmare Records
Reviewed by Jerrol

Avian is the brainchild of guitarist Yan Leviathan, after being inspired by a metal festival he attended in 2002, who wanted to create a band that combined the best elements of classic U.S. metal and those of European power metal bands. By gathering some great musicians, David Ellefson (ex-Megadeth, F5), Lance King (Pyramaze, Balance of Power) and Johan Weingarten (Pyramaze) among others, he was able to make is vision a reality by creating Avian and with the release of their debut album From the Depths of Time.

Avian has gone through a lineup overhaul since their debut album. Lance King is still onboard but the gone are famed bassist David Ellefson and keyboardist Johan Weingarten. The bass and keys on Ashes and Madness are handled by Yan and Lance respectively. Also on board for Ashes and Madness are Bill Hudson (ex-Cellador, Circle II Circle) handling the guitar solos and drummer Jerry Babcock.

The album stats off with title track, Ashes and Madness, which sets the mood for the album with very catchy riffs and a versatile vocal performance from Lance. Lost and Forsaken, one of the best tracks on the album, starts off with a subtle growl from Lance before flowing into a very catchy, almost Middle-eastern vibe. Things pick up pace with Into The Other Side which is the closest thing to straight forward power metal on Ashes and Madness. All The Kings Horses is defiantly another standout track on the album, starting with an acoustic intro which leads into a song that picks up speed throughout.

Even though Ashes and Madness took a little time to grow on me, I realized after several listens that the entire album is very well performed and recorded, with most of the songs on the album being mid-tempo rockers, which makes Avian reminiscent of little known and underrated Swedish power metal band Hollow. If you are looking for speedy power metal to blow by you with the usual generic riffing and keyboard runs, then Avian is defiantly not for you. But if you are looking for a solid classic metal performance with a power metal flair then you would do yourself no wrong by checking out Avian and their latest release, Ashes And Madness.

Killing Songs :
Ashes And Madness, The Lost And Forsaken, All The Kings Horses
Jerrol quoted 78 / 100
Other albums by Avian that we have reviewed:
Avian - From The Depths Of Time reviewed by Ben and quoted 67 / 100
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