One of my favorite heavy metal band’s next album may not have happened at all. In fact, the band could have been probably no more after a scary car accident their distinctive, sound determining vocalist has suffered. Close to a year ago Nina Osegueda of A Sound of Thunder was involved in a particularly bad collision which could have left her dead or paralyzed. Thankfully circumstances were on Nina’s side, she pulled through and made full recovery. The band’s next album Parallel Eternity is due later in a year, financed, in what has become the band’s signature Kickstarter approach. Just like in all of the past campaigns/albums, I have contributed to hear A Sound of Thunder next creation. Thus, full disclosure, feel free to detect bias in my review.

An EP, probably a planned move, precedes the full album, and while featuring no new songs it gives a glimpse to what will be A Sound of Thunder foray into orchestrally supported heavy metal. The first two songs, Time’s Arrow and Queen of Hell, feature the band’s classics with orchestral arrangements. Depending on what you think orchestral heavy metal has to sound like, feel free to pick sides. If you want the orchestra to overwhelm metal, you will be disappointed. Despite definite voluminous sound and momentarily flourishes, the sound here is predominantly metal. Time’s Arrow is almost a perfect choice for an orchestral arrangement, the song’s riff gallop still heard but the middle part getting more mysterious and dark. For Queen of Hell, there is nothing you can do to spoil this all-time favorite, but the orchestra makes the song a little less aggressive, although Nina is in top singing/shrieking form.

Things get weird after that. Drumless classical music version of Phantom’s Flight lacks a bit of urgency and muscle, and techno club version of Udoroth - well, you wouldn’t recognize it unless you were told. Interesting experiments, and something all of us should try at one point - to get out of the driven lane - yet I much prefer the traditional sound, enhanced with orchestra, so Time’s Arrow and Queen of Hell get my nod of approval here.

I can’t wait for Parallel Eternity full album to land. Either way, it promises to be a bold statement by the band, and I hope the one I can fully embrace.