SPELLBLAST - ITALY

SPELLBLAST - HORNS OF SILENCE - METAL CRUSADE  
Spellblast is either a power metal band that has gone soft and introduced folk elements or a folk rock band that has firmed up its sound and become more metallic. One would like to think the Italians have done the latter. After all, who would want the band - any band - to deteriorate?
Spellblast is a six-piece with loads of pomp and circumstance. The horns, synthesizer, acoustic parts and pompous arrangements take away from the power or heaviness, but the group certainly benefits from impressive vocals and guitar work. Sign Of The Unicorns, for instance, has beautiful lead guitar work. There is probably some influences here from Freedom Call, Elvenking and Rhapsody and fans of folk rock with some metallic tinges should be in heaven. True or pure metal fans though should clearly move on however. Incidentally, why would any band call any album Horns Of Silence and can we be certain that an Italian band is credible with a song like In The Name Of Odin? - Anna Tergel