Machines Of Mental Design

Norway's Guardians Of Time have done something here that many band's wouldn't dare do, especially on the all important "Let's see if this band has what it takes" second record; they've released a full-blown concept album. Machines Of Mental Design is based on a very cool story about the quest to create a "Super Being" that would help "cleanse" the human race. Basically, the idea is to create a Christ-like being that would be part man and part machine that would become the "saviour" of the modern world. A company called "TriOpticon" is formed to begin the creation of this divine entity with the main character, a woman named Delacroix, being the one responsible to oversee the entire project. Seeing an opportunity to accomplish a transformation into a divine being, Delacroix decides to use the technology to transform herself into the ultimate "Super Being". The heroes of the story, are called in and go by the name of (you guessed it) The Guardians Of Time. Their mission, if they choose to accept it (forgive the Mission Impossible reference!) is to defeat Delacroix and to destroy the technology that she has created. With "The Guardians" hot on her trail, she decides to enter the mainframe of a massive computer system at the TriOpticon complex to escape capture.

This album has all the cool sound effects etc. that a concept album like this should have and is superbly performed by Rune Schellingerhout, guitars, Paul Olsen, guitars, Dag-Ove Johnsen, bass, Vidar Vleberg, drums and Bernt Fjellestad, vocals. The music of Guardians Of Time can be described as melodic power metal with some true metal qualities. With a mix of speedy and galloping rhythms combined with thundering double bass drumming, their music shows influences of both Hammerfall and Helloween with a little of the classic U.S. power metal sound of such bands as Jag Panzer and Manowar. The classic U.S. power metal sound is being revisited lately with a few new bands namely Firewind and it's a refreshing change from the literally hundreds of speedy "happy" power metal bands in existence nowadays. Fast heavy riffing is complimented by a very healthy dose of dual lead guitar trade-offs in the classic Downing/Tipton (Priest) or Murray/Smith (Maiden) tradition. A few tracks such as TriOpticon, feature a more pounding heavier feel with some great dramatic qualities and thematic riffing. The classic Hammerfall big power ballad style can be heard with the track Puppets Of The Mainframe. With the slower ballad feel mixed with loud heavy riffs, this one sounds like something from Glory To The Brave or Legacy Of Kings. The vocals of Bernt Fjellstad sound similar to the vocals of Joacim Cans (Hammerfall) both in delivery and tone and also (unfortunately) in their inability to reach and hold the high notes without straining at times. He has a solid voice but sings in ranges that in some instances his voice just can't sustain for any great lengths.

Sound and production-wise, this is a killer sounding power metal album. Big fat guitar riffs, pounding and fast drumming pretty much dominate every track on this album. The guitar playing is solid and the leads show a great balance between technical flash and emotion in their execution. Although there's lots of solid riffs on this album and it really does sound great, it lacks a bit in the songwriting department. There's several tracks that have excellent vocal performances and great choruses but most although sounding great, just fade from memory after listening to them. After about 5 spins of this album, I found myself loving the sound of the album although only a few tracks actually left any sort of impression on me. There's a huge sound with this band and if this came out 4 or 5 years ago, we'd be all over it calling it a masterpiece and over quoting it etc. etc. (you know the story). In the year 2004, there's lots of these sorts of bands and this band seems very "calculated" in their sound and arrangements. All the riffs have a certain predictability and the double bass drum flurries on a few tracks seem too deliberate and are just trying to "sugar coat" the sound. This band needs to take stock in their strengths (they have many) and focus on what they can bring to the power metal scene that's going to separate them from the pack. With better attention to songwriting, they could turn an overall solid album such as this one into a metal masterpiece. They have the sound, ability and talent to do it. A great sounding band that should appeal to most power metal fans.

Oh....by the way, the main character, Delacroix, escapes into a new dimension after the Guardians destroy the towers of the TriOpticon complex which houses the computers......I smell a part 2 in the near future........