Finnish modern power metal artists Arion took advantage of the time between studio records – even if a pandemic was in the mix. Their previous album Vultures Die Alone came out in 2021 – followed by touring opportunities in 2022 with Gloryhammer across the UK/Ireland and 2023 with Dream Theater and Bloodbound that covered many European countries. Setting into motion the fourth album The Light That Burns the Sky, a massive opportunity for the quintet to imprint themselves into higher spotlight terrain – and after numerous playbacks it appears that these musicians are up to the challenge.
A decidedly heavier crunchy guitar tone takes the riffs beyond power metal conventions and into territory that modern metalcore/groove-oriented listeners will also savor. Check out the riff barrage next to a crafty progressive rhythm section underpinning that pushes the title track into instant horns up approval – the subsequent addictive clean vocal melodies beyond the gang-like background support pillars that cement the status of this arrangement. The work of guitarist Iivo Kaipainen and keyboardist Arttu Vauhkonen compliments the desired sophistication with emotional resonance you hope to have in this style – a balance act between sterling hooks and virtuoso sequences. Ad Infinitum’s Melissa Bonny appears on the stunning mid-tempo anthem “Wings of Twilight”, her vocals glide seamlessly next to Lassi Vääränen in dramatic fashion, the chorus highly infectious in its pop/modern rock sensibilities.
Other times the cyber/electronic-like chord progressions take shape against some more melodic power heaviness as in “Blasphemous Paradise”, where some lower register vocals carry the verses as the staccato-oriented guitar riffs give chase to an electrifying axe shred break that mesmerizes. Progressive overtures appear in the tempo shifts during “Black Swan”, while the longest track “Into the Hands of Fate” contains almost seven minutes of dynamic intrigue between its softer keyboard overtures, extreme metal guitar/double kick maneuvers, stunted / gothic instrumental sequences all the way through to a bombastic conclusion. The eleven tracks contain the right mixture of diverse atmosphere and drive next to interesting riffs, distinction song by song that will cause many repeat listens.
Fourteen years together as a group, Arion seems ready to grab at the brass ring in their footprint on the modern power symphonic metal landscape for The Light That Burns the Sky. There aren’t many records that could grab followers into Evergrey, Kamelot, Orden Ogan, and Sonata Arctica while leaning into some current metalcore and extreme overtones when necessary – that’s what you’ll get (and so much more) here.