THALARION -

THALARION - TALES OF THE WOODS... THUS WAS WRITTEN - MIGHTY
It seems like we have to feature one such band every month. Slovakia's Thalarion presents a music mix of recent Tiamat with the usual K&F (keyboards & female vocals) which is now sweeping the scene like the worst of trends. One would think the harsh living conditions in the former Eastern block would point these bands to a harder sound; alas there is little here to attract a heavy metal fan. It is all pretty dire for which one can blame the band. - Ali "The Metallian"

THALARION - FOUR ELEMENTS MYSTERIUM - MIGHTY
How can Mighty Music describe this weak and derivative K&F disc as 'heavy, severe and aggressive' is beyond me. This will put the Back Street Boys to sleep. In case any readers think I might be exaggerating, here is a partial list of instruments used on this CD: old Slovak pipe, keyboards, tambourine and Chinese wind. Next time please include a poster of the girl in this band so at least we'd have something to look at. - Ali "The Metallian"

THALARION - TUNES OF DESPONDENCY - MIGHTY
Two years ago we panned Thalarion's then-new album Four Elements Mysterium for its weak elements most notably the K&F (Keyboards and Female vocals) and ridiculed the enclosed biography for calling that album, 'heavy, severe and aggressive.' Tunes Of Despondency is the band's album and according to the label more aggressive and "leaving the cleaner goth parts behind." Second time lucky, as the biography gets it right time. Thalarion certainly still harbours some K&F and is hardly about to sway true fans of metal, but the quintet has indeed tightened its approach and shored up its delivery with better vocals and more guitars. The metal/gothic interaction is reminiscent of Within Temptation, but there are complete songs on Tunes Of Despondency which deviate little from the ideals of heavy metal. Thalarion, with Tunes Of Despondency, has indeed set itself onto the correct path and fans of the sub-genre will want to examine the band's work - Ali "The Metallian"