An Italian-Swiss combination progressive metal unit, Virtual Symmetry continue to amaze through their stellar compositions plus fluid musicianship abilities. Consistently following this group from their second studio album release Exoverse in 2020, the pandemic hasn’t slowed down any productivity as they now issue their fourth full-length for Veils of Illumination. They’ve chosen to execute an interesting promotional strategy – the physical release appearing now, but trickling out digital singles for the record monthly until May 2025. Whatever the reasons, it does not diminish the quality songwriting and performances contained within these eight tracks.
Two new members join the ranks in the period between records – keyboardist Ruben Paganelli and drummer Andrea Gianangeli, the latter with previous experience in David Reece’s solo band. The five-piece continually challenge themselves (and the listeners) through the tightly driven measures that can be bombastic in musicianship interplay one moment, then highly melodic or serene the next – yet make both sides of the coin work in the same song. Opener “Heart’s Resonance” achieves both elements right away, the Dream Theater-esque keyboard work allowing the subsequent adventurous to aggressive guitar parts more driving power – all the while encouraging Marco Pastorino’s alluring vocal range to widen the colors available in his emotional tones even further. Cinematic sections sit next to progressive passages, occasionally using more of an Evergrey or Symphony X-like down-tuned guitar texture that appeases dynamically, as “Blades of Inner Battles” illustrates. The left field distant screams beyond the prolific guitar/keyboard instrumental break angles add thrills to this almost nine-minute-long arrangement. At times you can almost close your eyes to envision magnificent, outer universe splendor – a song like “Echoes of Silence” shines through a series of jazzy meets progressive runs next to tamer verses, Ruben’s orchestration and keyboard layers rising to the peaks necessary especially on the back half of the song.
As customary for Virtual Symmetry, the band love to deliver a true ‘epic’ song in their progressive metal framework – that’s what you’ll get to conclude the record for “Eightfold Path”. At almost twenty-one minutes, there’s so much information to process between the slower, marching instrumental start with pitch-bending keyboard solo work on through to graceful guitar play, as well as tight rhythm section mechanics which shift tempos at the greatest of ease. The male/female tradeoff vocals provide dramatic tension, bassist Alessandro Poppale given minor spotlights while the instrumental passage midway through pushes all instrumentalists to their neoclassical, progressive proclivities – it’s the type of song that ardent followers of this style treasure.
With mixing and mastering under the proper hands/mind of Simone Mularoni (DGM), Virtual Symmetry recently gained a great opportunity to tour Europe with Evergrey to hopefully acquire larger followers to their ways. Veils of Illumination deserves plenty of investment, especially for those who love the classic progressive metal framework taken to the next level in a format that can appeal not just to the schooled musicians but a broader audience.