It certainly has been some time since we heard from Season of Ghosts, a promising modern metal act that was the brainchild of Sophia Aslanidou, who cut her teeth on the Blood Stain Child album Epsilon. If there was one thing holding back the 2014 debut The Human Paradox, it was that of sounding like a solo project and not a full-fledged band. A Leap of Faith remedies this, and accelerates the band along towards trance/metal glory.
The blend of electronic and metallic elements is what tends to set Season of Ghosts apart from many other bands of a similar ilk. Instead of battling each other, the proper space has been given to both sides of the equation and they effectively work together to augment the band’s sound into more unique territory. The crunchy guitar riffing doesn’t bludgeon the listener, instead working with the upbeat and sometimes bouncing trance elements to drive the music forward with distinctive flair. The drumming and basswork is also worth noting (check out “How the Story Ends”), providing a more human element to the mix, and providing a tasteful counterpoint to the electronics. But make no mistake about it, this is a vocally-driven album, as strong as the instrumentation may be. In that regard, Sophia Aslanidou shows some definite growth as a vocalist and worthy of steering the ship. With no autotuning or enhancements this time around, her crisp and emotive vocals have an enigmatic quality to them. The choruses are justifiably huge (see “A Place to Call Home”), with potent lyrics that have an inspiring quality to them without feeling cliché. All in all, with the combination of band, voice, and electronics, A Leap of Faith sounds cinematic yet grounded in reality.
Though it took some time and Season of Ghosts had to surmount a few struggles along the way, A Leap of Faith emerges as a triumphant piece of modern metal. The band continues to walk in their own pathway with a combination of human and electronic elements that most bands have difficulty taming into a coherent piece. Destined to be a niche release, those who come across it are bound to be pulled in.