Dol Ammad

Just when one might think there really isn't anything new to do in metal, along comes a band like Dol Ammad. The brainchild of Greek keyboardist Thanasis Lightbridge, Dol Ammad promotes itself as "electronica art metal" -- while a tad pretentious, that description isn't far from the truth. The group blends power metal, orchestral music, and electronica (names such as Vangelis and Jean Michel Jarre are often mentioned here, for those who know what they sound like) in a way that really hasn't been done before. For starters, check out the lineup below -- that's a twelve-piece choir (six male, six female) providing the vocals (update: it's now fourteen strong). Choired vocals invariably brings Therion to mind, and that's applicable here, but Dol Ammad take it to another level -- with no solo lead vocals, the choirs are the vocals, and as such they bring an air of majesty that even Therion hasn't mastered. Lightbridge's keyboards are at the forefront, naturally, with plenty of new-agey spaciness that one might think is out of place, but it isn't -- the keyboards meld perfectly with the power metal base. If there's a criticism, it's that the metal aspect is a shade suppressed, notably the guitars, which are perhaps too understated, relegated as they are to secondary rhythm instrument most of the time. Nevertheless, this is an outstanding and original take on music. Star Tales is an excellent debut album in its own right, but there is enormous potential to be tapped here. One of the most original bands to emerge in several years.

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Discography

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