Album Reviews
END OF ENTRAPMENT (2016)
METAL TEMPLE (10/10)
It so very rare to come across a sound that literally has you blown away at the very listen; it was a breath of fresh air to hear this from Californian based SORIZON, their weapon of choice to do this is their latest EP ‘End Of Entrapment’. In fact even if one said that this record will blow minds will be a huge understatement.
They describe themselves as Radical Metal, another sub genre that could make the ever growing list. They formed in the year 2008 and have since then been delivering a quality sound that suggests unity. They don’t stick to one specific sub genre of metal yet they still produce some pretty big melodies here.
It’s starts off with the song ‘Falling’ which has a seemingly chilled out feel to it; this however is just a ruse. The transition from that to the brutal sounds that come out next is rather well done here. It seems that not sticking to one genre really works in their favour, each individual track offers something different and epic.
What’s great about the tracks is that it is extremely hard to pinpoint who they sound like; for example in the track ‘Lay To Waste’ you find yourself questioning whether you can hear the vocals of EMPEROR’s Ihsahn over the tempos you’d hear in a SLAYER track. Another example is the track ‘Bypass The Pain’; you think you hear DRAGONFORCE through the guitar riffs and vocals but something happens that makes you question your opinion.
One thing that is for sure the EP consists of epic vocals, finger bleeding guitar work, thumping bass and no nonsense drums. It can be agreed they pull all of the raddest qualities of everything heavy and combine it marvellously.
Concluding with an acoustic rendition of ‘Cosmic Eden’ one of their previous tracks was perfection. Whether you’re a fan of the more melodic tones of metal or the brutal side of the question, you’d be a fool not to give this a spin.
Originality: 10
Recording: 10
Memorability: 9
Songwriting: 9
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THE METAL OBSERVER (9/10)
There are some combinations that just don’t work at all. Some are like mixing all of the paints on those little watercolor trays when you were younger. It would bleed into a ugly mess. But there are always those aspects and parts of life that go together like bread and butter. A prime example of this is the dynamic latest release from Orange County bangers, Sorizon, entitled End of Entrapment. All sorts of heavy metal sub-genres combine to make an eclectic cocktail of sounds that is sure to please all sorts of metal fans. This is a bit of a step away from the usual stylistics of this band, but this is by no means a bad thing. Long story short: releases like this one are very hard to come by. It is a shame that bands like Sorizon get little to no recognition in the mainstream metal scene, for I’d be willing to bet that this EP will be a smash hit should it get the right amount of publicity, for it has the right elements of musicality. Melody, aggression, shredding, and killer riffs are gathered around the table and the conversation is diverse.
As innovative as this EP is, the (dare I say it) throwback element to it is obvious, as when I heard the first words of “Falling,” the words Ronnie James Dio came to mind. I’m not sure if this was intentional or not, but vocalist Keith McIntosh has some seriously good duplication skills here. He has the distinct vibrato, the range, and vocal tenacity that Dio had. Even the rest of the band joins in on the fun with riffs that sound like they were inspired from Dio’s solo career. But, can Dio growl? As odd as that question sounds, McIntosh’s mix of harsh/clean vocals allow the listener to experience some sort of fanboyish glee in terms of what that would sound like. One of the only complaints that I have regarding the vocals is the sometimes odd phrasing that McIntosh employs on certain songs, such as “Bypass the Pain.” Although that song is by far the best of End of Entrapment, there is a feeling of too many lyrics, and not enough song to match. The same issue also applies to “Cosmic Eden.”
Despite the above, there is so much greatness to be had from End of Entrapment. I got three words for you: variety, variety, variety. What love about this release the most is the fact that one can apply to any situation in their daily life. One could easily drive to work with “Falling” or “Lay to Waste” blasting through their speakers. No coffee needed. Although, if your boss asks why you’re screaming at the clientele, you didn’t hear that from me. And later when you’re dog-tired, you can kick-back and wind down to the new acoustic version of “Cosmic Eden.” From the glam metal-laden “Poisonous Kiss” to the bone-crushing progressive/heavy metal track “Falling,” there’s so many different things to listen to.
This conveying of different moods and emotions is definitely one of Sorizon’s best attributes as a band and the guitar playing definitely brings this to the table far more than any other aspect of End of Entrapment. There’s a really interesting contrast of major and minor notes throughout each song and this alludes to an obvious power metal influence that can be noticed in this EP. It was odd, yet cool to hear an angry groove section lead into a killer guitar solo over some happy chords, and then have it all return back into the aggressive undertow in opening track “Falling.” Sorizon knows a thing or two about subtle humor and irony as well. The last words of “Falling” depict a person “rising from the ashes” and song title contradicts this. These little details are what can bring one’s listening experience head and shoulders above the ones of their past. From each song one can expect a musical journey filled with melody and prowess.
There is so much to expect from Sorizon and it’s no surprise that End of Entrapment is eight years in the making. Sometimes the metal community is floored by bands like Grave whose debut albums tend to be considered their best, and are so good that not much can top them. But Sorizon is of a different breed of metal bands. They get better and better with time, and they evolve into smashingly good acts that will continue to please their fans for years to come. P.S: buy this.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SADISTIC1 - THE METAL ARCHIVES (95/100)
Southern California based progressive metal band Sorizon have a brand new release forthcoming and I had the opportunity to listen to it prior to the digital release. The 6 song EP, "End of Entrapment" is set to release independently on March 11th, 2016 via Bandcamp, Spotify, iTunes and all major online retailers.
Orange County, CA has always been a hotbed of musical talent in many genres and I was not surprised of the talent when I was turned on to Sorizon. I first listened to their second release titled "Somnus" some time ago and really enjoyed the professionalism portrayed in their songs. When I heard that Sorizon was releasing a new EP, I was very interested in hearing what they put together on this third release. To say the least, it was quite refreshing from the beginning right on through to the last track.
The band has labeled themselves as radical metal. By that, they purposely made a conscious decision to not fit any particular sub-genre or sub-culture. This gave the band an opportunity to explore many options musically that all seemed to fit together quite nicely instead of worrying about what might work or not work to stay true to any one particular genre. I know there are many purists or elitists out there who trouble themselves about a band fitting a specific genre and that is okay. However, I don't waste too much time trying to fit bands into certain pigeon holes. If I like it, so be it.
I mentioned earlier that "End of Entrapment" was refreshing. What I meant by that was it was refreshing to hear a band with many influences and who were not afraid to record great heavy metal music the way they wanted to play it. Sorizon has been hard at work over the last several years playing in any bar or club they could line a gig up with. This relentless effort has gotten them quite a bit of notoriety within the Southern California scene.
"End of Entrapment" displays the veteran status of Sorizon with powerful lyric delivery, harmonies, well placed guitar solos, hard and fast drumming and bass that is not drowned out. The EP starts off with "Falling". This track features the distinct vocal range from vocalist Keith McIntosh. This is, in my opinion, the best track on the album and a perfect choice to place it at the beginning to capture the listener. The voice of Keith can easily be paired next to the greats like Bruce Dickinson, Rob Halford, and many others in the power metal genre. The guitar work is handled by two guys, Tim Hall and Dr. Danny Mann, and work together flawlessly. Much like Iron Maiden, the guitars seem to compliment each other really well. The rhythm section is carried by drummer, Sean Elston, and bassist, Kevin Vickers. These guys work well together and provide a sturdy foundation for the rest of the guys to build upon. The second track titled "Lay to Waste" has more of a metalcore feel about it. Once again showing that Sorizon is not set on any particular direction except to play the music they want to play. Why play music if you aren't into it or having fun doing it? One thing I really enjoyed about the album was that each track was unique in their own right and had a great blend. The bass was loud and pounded the shit out of my speakers but didn't muddy up the rest of the arrangement. The drums were loud and clear. The guitarists were on the same page. You never felt like there was an unnecessary competition to be the loudest or the fastest. Just cohesive efforts by all. The final track, "Cosmic Eden" was an acoustic track from the first release titled "Behind the Emerald Starscape". Perfect way to round out this album.
All in all, Sorizon has proven that there still are great bands playing progressive metal with a new light. They have shared stages with internationally known bands such as Anvil, Diamond Head, Havok, Katatonia amongst others. If you get a chance to see one of Sorizon's live gigs in a city near you, it will be worth your time.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
METAL NEXUS
“And now for something completely different…”
– Monty Python’s Flying Circus
Sorizon is a very rare and unique band based out of Orange County, CA. Playing throughout Southern and Central California, Arizona and Nevada; this sextet of wickedly talented musicians have thrown caution to the wind and decided to create whatever strikes their collective, creative fancy instead of targeting one group of listeners or chaining themselves to any certain genre. When asked “what is your target audience”, song-writer, studio guitarist, and manager Dr. Danny Mann enthusiastically states “Everyone! We’ve heard many times after our shows from people who don’t really like metal that they really dug our set. I’m proud of that!” That said, Sorizon has much to be proud of because after just one listen to their music, one understands why this is true!
Universal appeal is a tall order and all too often a recipe for a train wreck, but with the energy and obvious cohesion of its members, Sorizon never once comes off the rails. From their new CD “End of Entrapment”, solely acoustic songs like “Cosmic Eden” and the overwhelmingly catchy “Poisonous Kiss” to the larger than life “Beauty In The Darkness” (this song is simply incredible!) from their first release “Behind The Emerald Starscape”, everything is owned by this band; their style, unmistakable and identifiable as Sorizon. There is also the potential to sound schizophrenic: unable to land on a definable path. Again, Sorizon successfully navigates their direction much like assembling acompound polyhedron: complex in its detail but wonderfully elegant, simple and beautiful as an integrated unit. Bottom line: open your mind and don’t get caught up in the minutiae because when their music is taken in its entirety, Sorizon is nothing short of brilliant!
Sorizon was formed by Dr. Danny Mann, vocalist Keith McIntosh and drummer Sean Elston, relics of the locally successful band Joust in 2008. Once adding Taylor Courier and Tim Hall on guitars and Kevin Vickers on bass, Sorizon was complete. Most striking about this line-up is that there is no weak link among them, even with the bar set so high as a collective. Stellar guitar work ranges from furiously fast to ominous, low and dark; often trading these same traits with the drums and bass to create seamless bridges between musical ideas in the same song or from one song to the next. The vocal prowess of Keith McIntosh fits perfectly in this ever-changing paradigm of Sorizon musicianship. He has one of the best clean vocals available: rich, soaring and powerful but able to switch to vicious screams and growls when appropriate. Simply amazing. Being all over the musical tapestry with their self-described brand of “Progressive Metal with feeling” is reflected by Sorizon’s variety of influences which range from classics like Black Sabbath, Dio and Iron Maiden, to Symphony X, Megadeth and Metallica all the way to Mastadon, Opeth and Gojira.
Quoting Mann’s response regarding the future vision of Sorizon: “My personal vision is that Sorizon gets recognized as an innovative metal band with memorable, unique songs. No matter what happens, I’m really proud of the music we’ve made because we’ve put a ton of effort to do our best making metal that we think people need to hear.” Innovative: check. Memorable and unique: check. Metal we need to hear: BIG CHECK! Recognition, no doubt will follow with the brazen quality of Sorizon’smusic. Definitely a band to watch out for!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THE METAL MAG (95/100)
Sorizon:"End of Entrapment"CD 2016 self produced. USA Heavy Metal/Death Metal band. The cover is amazing painting that brings a fresh blend into the music and so gives the artist great credits. Musically it's a bit weird in a way the band loves Heavy Metal but wants to get new kids, the first songs are very inspired by Swedish Death Metal with a sharky voice and reminds me Inflames, Decadence se..then it moves to the very old 80's tunes with melodies and great tunes in the vein of Honey For Christ, Scorpions, LA guns, Cinderella etc... so you have been warned it kicks serious ass but you need to love the old and new Metal cos it's a bit of a surprise the first time.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THE METAL DAD
Southern California’s purveyors of “Radical Metal,” Sorizon return with five new tracks and an acoustic version of a previously released song. Mixing both clean, soaring vocals with those of the guttural variety the overall vibe on this record is really all over the map. From classic thrash and power metal to bits and pieces soaked in the blood of melodic death metal Sorizon certainly can not be accused of being copycats. Fans of acts as varied as Children of Bodom and Helloween should find plenty to enjoy on this release.
It so very rare to come across a sound that literally has you blown away at the very listen; it was a breath of fresh air to hear this from Californian based SORIZON, their weapon of choice to do this is their latest EP ‘End Of Entrapment’. In fact even if one said that this record will blow minds will be a huge understatement.
They describe themselves as Radical Metal, another sub genre that could make the ever growing list. They formed in the year 2008 and have since then been delivering a quality sound that suggests unity. They don’t stick to one specific sub genre of metal yet they still produce some pretty big melodies here.
It’s starts off with the song ‘Falling’ which has a seemingly chilled out feel to it; this however is just a ruse. The transition from that to the brutal sounds that come out next is rather well done here. It seems that not sticking to one genre really works in their favour, each individual track offers something different and epic.
What’s great about the tracks is that it is extremely hard to pinpoint who they sound like; for example in the track ‘Lay To Waste’ you find yourself questioning whether you can hear the vocals of EMPEROR’s Ihsahn over the tempos you’d hear in a SLAYER track. Another example is the track ‘Bypass The Pain’; you think you hear DRAGONFORCE through the guitar riffs and vocals but something happens that makes you question your opinion.
One thing that is for sure the EP consists of epic vocals, finger bleeding guitar work, thumping bass and no nonsense drums. It can be agreed they pull all of the raddest qualities of everything heavy and combine it marvellously.
Concluding with an acoustic rendition of ‘Cosmic Eden’ one of their previous tracks was perfection. Whether you’re a fan of the more melodic tones of metal or the brutal side of the question, you’d be a fool not to give this a spin.
Originality: 10
Recording: 10
Memorability: 9
Songwriting: 9
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THE METAL OBSERVER (9/10)
There are some combinations that just don’t work at all. Some are like mixing all of the paints on those little watercolor trays when you were younger. It would bleed into a ugly mess. But there are always those aspects and parts of life that go together like bread and butter. A prime example of this is the dynamic latest release from Orange County bangers, Sorizon, entitled End of Entrapment. All sorts of heavy metal sub-genres combine to make an eclectic cocktail of sounds that is sure to please all sorts of metal fans. This is a bit of a step away from the usual stylistics of this band, but this is by no means a bad thing. Long story short: releases like this one are very hard to come by. It is a shame that bands like Sorizon get little to no recognition in the mainstream metal scene, for I’d be willing to bet that this EP will be a smash hit should it get the right amount of publicity, for it has the right elements of musicality. Melody, aggression, shredding, and killer riffs are gathered around the table and the conversation is diverse.
As innovative as this EP is, the (dare I say it) throwback element to it is obvious, as when I heard the first words of “Falling,” the words Ronnie James Dio came to mind. I’m not sure if this was intentional or not, but vocalist Keith McIntosh has some seriously good duplication skills here. He has the distinct vibrato, the range, and vocal tenacity that Dio had. Even the rest of the band joins in on the fun with riffs that sound like they were inspired from Dio’s solo career. But, can Dio growl? As odd as that question sounds, McIntosh’s mix of harsh/clean vocals allow the listener to experience some sort of fanboyish glee in terms of what that would sound like. One of the only complaints that I have regarding the vocals is the sometimes odd phrasing that McIntosh employs on certain songs, such as “Bypass the Pain.” Although that song is by far the best of End of Entrapment, there is a feeling of too many lyrics, and not enough song to match. The same issue also applies to “Cosmic Eden.”
Despite the above, there is so much greatness to be had from End of Entrapment. I got three words for you: variety, variety, variety. What love about this release the most is the fact that one can apply to any situation in their daily life. One could easily drive to work with “Falling” or “Lay to Waste” blasting through their speakers. No coffee needed. Although, if your boss asks why you’re screaming at the clientele, you didn’t hear that from me. And later when you’re dog-tired, you can kick-back and wind down to the new acoustic version of “Cosmic Eden.” From the glam metal-laden “Poisonous Kiss” to the bone-crushing progressive/heavy metal track “Falling,” there’s so many different things to listen to.
This conveying of different moods and emotions is definitely one of Sorizon’s best attributes as a band and the guitar playing definitely brings this to the table far more than any other aspect of End of Entrapment. There’s a really interesting contrast of major and minor notes throughout each song and this alludes to an obvious power metal influence that can be noticed in this EP. It was odd, yet cool to hear an angry groove section lead into a killer guitar solo over some happy chords, and then have it all return back into the aggressive undertow in opening track “Falling.” Sorizon knows a thing or two about subtle humor and irony as well. The last words of “Falling” depict a person “rising from the ashes” and song title contradicts this. These little details are what can bring one’s listening experience head and shoulders above the ones of their past. From each song one can expect a musical journey filled with melody and prowess.
There is so much to expect from Sorizon and it’s no surprise that End of Entrapment is eight years in the making. Sometimes the metal community is floored by bands like Grave whose debut albums tend to be considered their best, and are so good that not much can top them. But Sorizon is of a different breed of metal bands. They get better and better with time, and they evolve into smashingly good acts that will continue to please their fans for years to come. P.S: buy this.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SADISTIC1 - THE METAL ARCHIVES (95/100)
Southern California based progressive metal band Sorizon have a brand new release forthcoming and I had the opportunity to listen to it prior to the digital release. The 6 song EP, "End of Entrapment" is set to release independently on March 11th, 2016 via Bandcamp, Spotify, iTunes and all major online retailers.
Orange County, CA has always been a hotbed of musical talent in many genres and I was not surprised of the talent when I was turned on to Sorizon. I first listened to their second release titled "Somnus" some time ago and really enjoyed the professionalism portrayed in their songs. When I heard that Sorizon was releasing a new EP, I was very interested in hearing what they put together on this third release. To say the least, it was quite refreshing from the beginning right on through to the last track.
The band has labeled themselves as radical metal. By that, they purposely made a conscious decision to not fit any particular sub-genre or sub-culture. This gave the band an opportunity to explore many options musically that all seemed to fit together quite nicely instead of worrying about what might work or not work to stay true to any one particular genre. I know there are many purists or elitists out there who trouble themselves about a band fitting a specific genre and that is okay. However, I don't waste too much time trying to fit bands into certain pigeon holes. If I like it, so be it.
I mentioned earlier that "End of Entrapment" was refreshing. What I meant by that was it was refreshing to hear a band with many influences and who were not afraid to record great heavy metal music the way they wanted to play it. Sorizon has been hard at work over the last several years playing in any bar or club they could line a gig up with. This relentless effort has gotten them quite a bit of notoriety within the Southern California scene.
"End of Entrapment" displays the veteran status of Sorizon with powerful lyric delivery, harmonies, well placed guitar solos, hard and fast drumming and bass that is not drowned out. The EP starts off with "Falling". This track features the distinct vocal range from vocalist Keith McIntosh. This is, in my opinion, the best track on the album and a perfect choice to place it at the beginning to capture the listener. The voice of Keith can easily be paired next to the greats like Bruce Dickinson, Rob Halford, and many others in the power metal genre. The guitar work is handled by two guys, Tim Hall and Dr. Danny Mann, and work together flawlessly. Much like Iron Maiden, the guitars seem to compliment each other really well. The rhythm section is carried by drummer, Sean Elston, and bassist, Kevin Vickers. These guys work well together and provide a sturdy foundation for the rest of the guys to build upon. The second track titled "Lay to Waste" has more of a metalcore feel about it. Once again showing that Sorizon is not set on any particular direction except to play the music they want to play. Why play music if you aren't into it or having fun doing it? One thing I really enjoyed about the album was that each track was unique in their own right and had a great blend. The bass was loud and pounded the shit out of my speakers but didn't muddy up the rest of the arrangement. The drums were loud and clear. The guitarists were on the same page. You never felt like there was an unnecessary competition to be the loudest or the fastest. Just cohesive efforts by all. The final track, "Cosmic Eden" was an acoustic track from the first release titled "Behind the Emerald Starscape". Perfect way to round out this album.
All in all, Sorizon has proven that there still are great bands playing progressive metal with a new light. They have shared stages with internationally known bands such as Anvil, Diamond Head, Havok, Katatonia amongst others. If you get a chance to see one of Sorizon's live gigs in a city near you, it will be worth your time.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
METAL NEXUS
“And now for something completely different…”
– Monty Python’s Flying Circus
Sorizon is a very rare and unique band based out of Orange County, CA. Playing throughout Southern and Central California, Arizona and Nevada; this sextet of wickedly talented musicians have thrown caution to the wind and decided to create whatever strikes their collective, creative fancy instead of targeting one group of listeners or chaining themselves to any certain genre. When asked “what is your target audience”, song-writer, studio guitarist, and manager Dr. Danny Mann enthusiastically states “Everyone! We’ve heard many times after our shows from people who don’t really like metal that they really dug our set. I’m proud of that!” That said, Sorizon has much to be proud of because after just one listen to their music, one understands why this is true!
Universal appeal is a tall order and all too often a recipe for a train wreck, but with the energy and obvious cohesion of its members, Sorizon never once comes off the rails. From their new CD “End of Entrapment”, solely acoustic songs like “Cosmic Eden” and the overwhelmingly catchy “Poisonous Kiss” to the larger than life “Beauty In The Darkness” (this song is simply incredible!) from their first release “Behind The Emerald Starscape”, everything is owned by this band; their style, unmistakable and identifiable as Sorizon. There is also the potential to sound schizophrenic: unable to land on a definable path. Again, Sorizon successfully navigates their direction much like assembling acompound polyhedron: complex in its detail but wonderfully elegant, simple and beautiful as an integrated unit. Bottom line: open your mind and don’t get caught up in the minutiae because when their music is taken in its entirety, Sorizon is nothing short of brilliant!
Sorizon was formed by Dr. Danny Mann, vocalist Keith McIntosh and drummer Sean Elston, relics of the locally successful band Joust in 2008. Once adding Taylor Courier and Tim Hall on guitars and Kevin Vickers on bass, Sorizon was complete. Most striking about this line-up is that there is no weak link among them, even with the bar set so high as a collective. Stellar guitar work ranges from furiously fast to ominous, low and dark; often trading these same traits with the drums and bass to create seamless bridges between musical ideas in the same song or from one song to the next. The vocal prowess of Keith McIntosh fits perfectly in this ever-changing paradigm of Sorizon musicianship. He has one of the best clean vocals available: rich, soaring and powerful but able to switch to vicious screams and growls when appropriate. Simply amazing. Being all over the musical tapestry with their self-described brand of “Progressive Metal with feeling” is reflected by Sorizon’s variety of influences which range from classics like Black Sabbath, Dio and Iron Maiden, to Symphony X, Megadeth and Metallica all the way to Mastadon, Opeth and Gojira.
Quoting Mann’s response regarding the future vision of Sorizon: “My personal vision is that Sorizon gets recognized as an innovative metal band with memorable, unique songs. No matter what happens, I’m really proud of the music we’ve made because we’ve put a ton of effort to do our best making metal that we think people need to hear.” Innovative: check. Memorable and unique: check. Metal we need to hear: BIG CHECK! Recognition, no doubt will follow with the brazen quality of Sorizon’smusic. Definitely a band to watch out for!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THE METAL MAG (95/100)
Sorizon:"End of Entrapment"CD 2016 self produced. USA Heavy Metal/Death Metal band. The cover is amazing painting that brings a fresh blend into the music and so gives the artist great credits. Musically it's a bit weird in a way the band loves Heavy Metal but wants to get new kids, the first songs are very inspired by Swedish Death Metal with a sharky voice and reminds me Inflames, Decadence se..then it moves to the very old 80's tunes with melodies and great tunes in the vein of Honey For Christ, Scorpions, LA guns, Cinderella etc... so you have been warned it kicks serious ass but you need to love the old and new Metal cos it's a bit of a surprise the first time.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THE METAL DAD
Southern California’s purveyors of “Radical Metal,” Sorizon return with five new tracks and an acoustic version of a previously released song. Mixing both clean, soaring vocals with those of the guttural variety the overall vibe on this record is really all over the map. From classic thrash and power metal to bits and pieces soaked in the blood of melodic death metal Sorizon certainly can not be accused of being copycats. Fans of acts as varied as Children of Bodom and Helloween should find plenty to enjoy on this release.
SOMNUS (2013)
SEA OF TRANQUILITY
Sorizon's second album Somnus is the groups power loaded nimble release, one where the riffs hook in hard thanks to Sorizon's "radical" style of heavy metal with the powerful intensity of groups like Helstar. I hadn't heard this American band previously and after listening to Somnus I am certainly not complaining that the opportunity to do so has now presented itself.
Vocals are clean though sometimes an ominous darker side does appear, and their music includes a staunch brand of progressive/power metal, while it is nothing revolutionary Sorizon got it right on Somnus. Sorizon tease us with a short but sweet instrumental titled "Hypnagogia" and then hit hyper drive for "Captor of Dreams" a thunderous melodic metal tune, powering on for "Escaping the Witch" and from the introduction this bands music once again really kicks you in the butt."Morpheus" should be of interest to fans of such metal groups as Into Eternity with that mixture of clean and sinister vocals and potent gripping technical metal.
Somnus shows that Sorizon sure have the necessary musicianship and know how to put together an intense metal album one with a magnetic quality.
Reviewer: Scott Jessup
Score: 4/5
Sorizon's second album Somnus is the groups power loaded nimble release, one where the riffs hook in hard thanks to Sorizon's "radical" style of heavy metal with the powerful intensity of groups like Helstar. I hadn't heard this American band previously and after listening to Somnus I am certainly not complaining that the opportunity to do so has now presented itself.
Vocals are clean though sometimes an ominous darker side does appear, and their music includes a staunch brand of progressive/power metal, while it is nothing revolutionary Sorizon got it right on Somnus. Sorizon tease us with a short but sweet instrumental titled "Hypnagogia" and then hit hyper drive for "Captor of Dreams" a thunderous melodic metal tune, powering on for "Escaping the Witch" and from the introduction this bands music once again really kicks you in the butt."Morpheus" should be of interest to fans of such metal groups as Into Eternity with that mixture of clean and sinister vocals and potent gripping technical metal.
Somnus shows that Sorizon sure have the necessary musicianship and know how to put together an intense metal album one with a magnetic quality.
Reviewer: Scott Jessup
Score: 4/5
BEHIND THE EMERALD STARSCAPE (2009)
METAL ASSAULT RADIO
Review: Sorizon "Behind the Emerald Starscape"
4.7/5
Anyone who knows me can tell you, I'm not typically a fan of progressive metal, So my goal when I agreed to review this album was to be objective and unbiased, and about 50 seconds into the lead track "Cosmic Eden" I realized that this wasn't going to be your typical progressive metal CD. Sorizon is indeed a progressive metal band, but they have added countless elements of other genres and styles and found their own sound. "Behind the Emerald Starscape" is the full length debut by Sorizon, and they are at this time unsigned, that being said they spared no expense, and sent the album to Mika Jussila (Children of Bodom, Dragonforce, Nightwish) at Finnvox Studios in Finland for mastering. The mix on this album is nothing, if not stellar. Everything on this album is powerful, and yet nothing gets lost in the mix, or over-powered.
As a band, Sorizon blends all elements of their sound flawlessly, Mann and Jorion (split duty on lead/rythem guitars) compliment each other like not many bands have done, Maiden and Priest come to mind. McIntosh on vocals has a strong voice, and amazing range ( not to mention the backing vocals are always melodic and in key). Hoffman (Bass) and Elston (Drums) keep everything tight and on most songs, very uptempo. Sorizon is full up on talented musicians and composer(s).
No two songs are the same, there's alot of feeling in the music, to the point it sometimes takes on a life of it's own, and you're along for the ride. Due to the fact i don't often get alot of time to listen to albums at my pc, I often take them in the car listen, and take them back out when I've finished, this one is staying in the car, and in the very near future will probably be the cause of blown speakers.
Buy this CD, crank the volume and enjoy, I know I did. Sorizon has made a fan out of me, and the fact that this is a debut effort amazes me, I can't wait to see what the future holds with Sorizon. I will also be adding a few songs to the rotation here at Metal Assault Radio, and they will be available on the request system very shortly.
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SEA OF TRANQUILTY
Sorizon: Behind the Emerald Starscape
From California comes this hot new progressive extreme metal band Sorizon and their debut Behind the Emerald Starscape. It's interesting to note that the style these guys play is something you would normally hear from Scandinavia or Canada. A little bit of Dark Tranquility, Arch Enemy, Into Eternity, Mercenary, Scar Symmetry, Divinity, and In Flames pop into their music from time to time, as well as some power/prog metal influences such as Symphony X. So, though Sorizon might not initially be the most unique band you will ever hear, considering that this is their first album, and self-released at that, the professionalism that surrounds this album makes it a must hear for metal fans. The alternating of clean vocals with growls/screams of Keith McIntosh is quite well done (and this is where the Into Eternity/Divinity comparisons really come into play), as he handles all with utter conviction and power. His soaring pipes on the epic power metal track "Beauty In Darkness" never fails to impress, as does his trading off between clean & shrieks on the raging numbers "Cosmic Eden" and "Lady of the Sea". The rest of the band are equally as talented; check out the blistering harmony leads from Danny Mann & Aj Jorion at the intro to the thrash/prog metal gem "Don't Just Exist", or the two guitar studs laying down some complex lines over the insane rhythms from bassist Keith Hoffman & drummer Sean Elston on the intricate instrumental "Earth War 1". If you like epic sounding progressive metal, you can't go wrong with "Bridges Burned", a song with flurries of nimble drum fills from Elston and plenty of tasty guitar leads. Lots of melody abounds on Behind the Emerald Starscape, and when you mix that up with the right amount of complex interplay as well as brutality, you have a real winner of an album. This is one band that has a very bright future ahead of them, and I can't think of any major metal label that wouldn't like to have Sorizon on their roster.
Added: April 12th 2010
Reviewer: Pete Pardo
Score: 4 stars
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
HELLION RECORDS:
SORIZON Behind the emerald starscape
This is purely magickal stuff from a rather new american band. These have chosen the path of progressive, yet powerful metal, ranging from more traditional directions towards blistering thrashing fury. The vocals are mostly typical american melodic progpowermetal, somewhere between the likes of Geoff Tate, Rick Mythiasin and Ray Alder, but with a unique twist, something very charismatical. There are darker, more aggressive vocal passages as well, which make the music sound more like a dialogue within a morbid story and put an emphasize on the epic, story telling approach of the album. This band really goes for a top position in the field of progressive powermetal. A band that comes near ADRAMELCH and even has the inspiration to combine the widespread epic melodies of early FATES WARNING with the raging fury of the last four DEATH albums must be something different. Fortunately they don’t go too much into the technical and twisted direction, which often kills the fun with progressive metal. These guys know to write songs that stick to your mind with melodies of unearthly beauty, twin guitar leads and even acoustic guitars that go for a galloping heavy metal style. Amazing stuff and completely fresh!
Sir Lord Doom
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
AUTOTHRALL.BLOGSPOT.COM
Sorizon - Behind the Emerald Starscape (2010)
Considering that the Orange County area of California is a hotbed for awful pop punk and suburban trash rap like the Kottonmouth Kings, a band like Sorizon must be a huge relief for any sane person living there, because they've basically absorbed all the vacuum of sanity and intelligence left behind by so much of that music scene and injected into their own work. That they can write and deliver a 43 minute debut full-length album of such professional traits and well-crafted melodic metal as this must earn them some measure of castigation in such circles, but for the rest of us, Sorizon is an exciting young force within the often ignored spectrum where progressive and traditional metal elements gather for a tete-a-tete.
However, while I would be equally comfortable classifying the band in either the US power or progressive fields, there is actually more to this entity, for they incorporate a host of other influences, the primary of which would be 90s melodic death metal akin to earlier In Flames or Dark Tranquillity. For the most part, they pull it off. The band cites a wide array of influences from Symphony X and Dragonland to Arch Enemy and Norther, but I feel like the band most closely resembles the Italian band Eldritch during their earlier (and good) years. Melodic, loaded with hooks, and a vocalist who makes the most of his down to earth, middle range. Keith McIntosh actually goes beyond this, in fact, because he's also adequate at harmonizing himself, or snarling and growling for the more extreme parts.
Normally this mixture of clean and harsh can prove a jarring proposition, as with a band like Into Eternity, where you get the feeling the band is trying to please everyone and ending up a muddled mess, but at the very least McIntosh does a good job within the distinctive styles. The harsh vocals do feel like somewhat of a distraction on this album, and I don't often find their presence necessary, but he manages them with a restraint that suppressed any gag reflex I might have had. They're not as forced sounding as many of the modern US melodeath/metalcore bands who insist on overbearing them, but they're also not omnipresent on this album. This band knows where its strengths and loyalties lie, and they can be forgiven for a little experimentation.
One thing is certain, he's met his match with this band. Sorizon features a pair of guitar players (Danny Mann and Al Jorion) versed in exactly what makes a song keep the attention, offering a plethora of balanced aggression, melody and lead work that never once sullies itself in needless repetition or hokey self-indulgent shred. The rhythm section of Sean Elston (drums) and Keith Hoffman (bass) is fit for the task, grounding the guitars which are heavy but lack excessive crunch. I do feel the bass could get a bit more adventurous in a few of the sections, but you can really hear him on the cleaner parts and his tone is the right counterbalance for these guitars. The production of Behind the Emerald Starscape is highly professional, the measure of many peers within the genre, with the band having the actual foresight to send it over to Finnvox Studios for mastering.
There are 11 tracks here, two of which are instrumental, and I actually found myself gravitating more towards the later half of the album since there are some stunners there. "Bridges Burned" is a mature piece which opens with a mere plodding bass and clean guitar, then blossoming into an arch of melody accompanied subtly by McIntosh, before he explodes into the verse with a latticework of memorable vocals, like a deeper Ray Alder. "La Fee Verte" is a healthy draught of absinthe given musical voice as a progressive labyrinth of heavy grooves and thirst quenching solos, which also seems to have inspired the album's cover art. "Outreach" is considerably complex for such an accessible track, with excellent vocal harmonies. But there are also some excellent songs early on, like the engrossing "Lady of the Sea", the graceful "Don't Just Exist" (which includes a rare synth line, the band is largely guitar-driven), the quirky instrumental "Kirsnabogg" or the wild western saloon surf that opens the gothic prog metal of "Beauty in Darkness". The only song here I couldn't embrace was the opener "Cosmic Eden". The music is fantastic, as are the clean, harmonized vocals, but it's probably the most excessive as far as the Night in Gales-like melodeath snarls which felt a little overboard and unnecessary.
But really, if a few vocal lines are all I can complain about here, Sorizon is off to an impressive start. Most bands don't have their shit organized after a decade or so, but in two short years these Californians have mustered a great debut that nearly rivals the better work of Kamelot or Symphony X? There's no real chink in the armor here now, so I can only imagine what the band might come up with if given a few more years of gestation. Without being intensely poetic, the lyrics of Sorizon manage to stir up an enthusiasm for both the future and the mysteries of the world's past. They're a band of dreamers, and when you listen closely to the music they create together, the dreams are already well within reach of their galaxy-wide grasp.
Highlights: Bridges Burned, La Fee Verte, Don't Just Exist, Lady of the Sea
Verdict: Win [8.25/10] (I strive to know)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TARTAREAN DESIRE
REVIEW: Sorizon - Behind the Emerald Starscape self-released, 2009 8.5/10 Man oh man, you just know these guys are ready to compete from the get-go. Sorizon might hail from the prog-bereft landscape of Orange County, California, but this unsigned quintet is so committed to the task that they recorded this friggin’ debut with expertise and then shipped it off to be mixed at Finnvox Studios by renowned soundsmith Mika Jussila. What we’ve got on offer is a harnessing of all the good qualities of the progressive metal realm. It’s not as though the references are too arcane – a bit of Pain of Salvation, old Fates Warning, maybe some Eldritch and other Italian bands from the mid-‘90s – but it all hangs together with sensible adornment and consummate good taste. There are a few concessions to death metal vocal “harmonizing,” but not as chips-all-in as the likes of Into Eternity or The Arkitecht. The drums could use a bit more oomph and punch, but that’s just more of my usual nitpicking. All in all, this is awesome stop-start madness, wild solos flailing in all directions, credited to either respective guitarist, but never feeling like a mutually assured ego-stroke. Sensory, Nightmare, Inside Out, et al, your next cause célèbre is right here in front of you. written by Matthew Kirshner
Review: Sorizon "Behind the Emerald Starscape"
4.7/5
Anyone who knows me can tell you, I'm not typically a fan of progressive metal, So my goal when I agreed to review this album was to be objective and unbiased, and about 50 seconds into the lead track "Cosmic Eden" I realized that this wasn't going to be your typical progressive metal CD. Sorizon is indeed a progressive metal band, but they have added countless elements of other genres and styles and found their own sound. "Behind the Emerald Starscape" is the full length debut by Sorizon, and they are at this time unsigned, that being said they spared no expense, and sent the album to Mika Jussila (Children of Bodom, Dragonforce, Nightwish) at Finnvox Studios in Finland for mastering. The mix on this album is nothing, if not stellar. Everything on this album is powerful, and yet nothing gets lost in the mix, or over-powered.
As a band, Sorizon blends all elements of their sound flawlessly, Mann and Jorion (split duty on lead/rythem guitars) compliment each other like not many bands have done, Maiden and Priest come to mind. McIntosh on vocals has a strong voice, and amazing range ( not to mention the backing vocals are always melodic and in key). Hoffman (Bass) and Elston (Drums) keep everything tight and on most songs, very uptempo. Sorizon is full up on talented musicians and composer(s).
No two songs are the same, there's alot of feeling in the music, to the point it sometimes takes on a life of it's own, and you're along for the ride. Due to the fact i don't often get alot of time to listen to albums at my pc, I often take them in the car listen, and take them back out when I've finished, this one is staying in the car, and in the very near future will probably be the cause of blown speakers.
Buy this CD, crank the volume and enjoy, I know I did. Sorizon has made a fan out of me, and the fact that this is a debut effort amazes me, I can't wait to see what the future holds with Sorizon. I will also be adding a few songs to the rotation here at Metal Assault Radio, and they will be available on the request system very shortly.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SEA OF TRANQUILTY
Sorizon: Behind the Emerald Starscape
From California comes this hot new progressive extreme metal band Sorizon and their debut Behind the Emerald Starscape. It's interesting to note that the style these guys play is something you would normally hear from Scandinavia or Canada. A little bit of Dark Tranquility, Arch Enemy, Into Eternity, Mercenary, Scar Symmetry, Divinity, and In Flames pop into their music from time to time, as well as some power/prog metal influences such as Symphony X. So, though Sorizon might not initially be the most unique band you will ever hear, considering that this is their first album, and self-released at that, the professionalism that surrounds this album makes it a must hear for metal fans. The alternating of clean vocals with growls/screams of Keith McIntosh is quite well done (and this is where the Into Eternity/Divinity comparisons really come into play), as he handles all with utter conviction and power. His soaring pipes on the epic power metal track "Beauty In Darkness" never fails to impress, as does his trading off between clean & shrieks on the raging numbers "Cosmic Eden" and "Lady of the Sea". The rest of the band are equally as talented; check out the blistering harmony leads from Danny Mann & Aj Jorion at the intro to the thrash/prog metal gem "Don't Just Exist", or the two guitar studs laying down some complex lines over the insane rhythms from bassist Keith Hoffman & drummer Sean Elston on the intricate instrumental "Earth War 1". If you like epic sounding progressive metal, you can't go wrong with "Bridges Burned", a song with flurries of nimble drum fills from Elston and plenty of tasty guitar leads. Lots of melody abounds on Behind the Emerald Starscape, and when you mix that up with the right amount of complex interplay as well as brutality, you have a real winner of an album. This is one band that has a very bright future ahead of them, and I can't think of any major metal label that wouldn't like to have Sorizon on their roster.
Added: April 12th 2010
Reviewer: Pete Pardo
Score: 4 stars
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
HELLION RECORDS:
SORIZON Behind the emerald starscape
This is purely magickal stuff from a rather new american band. These have chosen the path of progressive, yet powerful metal, ranging from more traditional directions towards blistering thrashing fury. The vocals are mostly typical american melodic progpowermetal, somewhere between the likes of Geoff Tate, Rick Mythiasin and Ray Alder, but with a unique twist, something very charismatical. There are darker, more aggressive vocal passages as well, which make the music sound more like a dialogue within a morbid story and put an emphasize on the epic, story telling approach of the album. This band really goes for a top position in the field of progressive powermetal. A band that comes near ADRAMELCH and even has the inspiration to combine the widespread epic melodies of early FATES WARNING with the raging fury of the last four DEATH albums must be something different. Fortunately they don’t go too much into the technical and twisted direction, which often kills the fun with progressive metal. These guys know to write songs that stick to your mind with melodies of unearthly beauty, twin guitar leads and even acoustic guitars that go for a galloping heavy metal style. Amazing stuff and completely fresh!
Sir Lord Doom
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
AUTOTHRALL.BLOGSPOT.COM
Sorizon - Behind the Emerald Starscape (2010)
Considering that the Orange County area of California is a hotbed for awful pop punk and suburban trash rap like the Kottonmouth Kings, a band like Sorizon must be a huge relief for any sane person living there, because they've basically absorbed all the vacuum of sanity and intelligence left behind by so much of that music scene and injected into their own work. That they can write and deliver a 43 minute debut full-length album of such professional traits and well-crafted melodic metal as this must earn them some measure of castigation in such circles, but for the rest of us, Sorizon is an exciting young force within the often ignored spectrum where progressive and traditional metal elements gather for a tete-a-tete.
However, while I would be equally comfortable classifying the band in either the US power or progressive fields, there is actually more to this entity, for they incorporate a host of other influences, the primary of which would be 90s melodic death metal akin to earlier In Flames or Dark Tranquillity. For the most part, they pull it off. The band cites a wide array of influences from Symphony X and Dragonland to Arch Enemy and Norther, but I feel like the band most closely resembles the Italian band Eldritch during their earlier (and good) years. Melodic, loaded with hooks, and a vocalist who makes the most of his down to earth, middle range. Keith McIntosh actually goes beyond this, in fact, because he's also adequate at harmonizing himself, or snarling and growling for the more extreme parts.
Normally this mixture of clean and harsh can prove a jarring proposition, as with a band like Into Eternity, where you get the feeling the band is trying to please everyone and ending up a muddled mess, but at the very least McIntosh does a good job within the distinctive styles. The harsh vocals do feel like somewhat of a distraction on this album, and I don't often find their presence necessary, but he manages them with a restraint that suppressed any gag reflex I might have had. They're not as forced sounding as many of the modern US melodeath/metalcore bands who insist on overbearing them, but they're also not omnipresent on this album. This band knows where its strengths and loyalties lie, and they can be forgiven for a little experimentation.
One thing is certain, he's met his match with this band. Sorizon features a pair of guitar players (Danny Mann and Al Jorion) versed in exactly what makes a song keep the attention, offering a plethora of balanced aggression, melody and lead work that never once sullies itself in needless repetition or hokey self-indulgent shred. The rhythm section of Sean Elston (drums) and Keith Hoffman (bass) is fit for the task, grounding the guitars which are heavy but lack excessive crunch. I do feel the bass could get a bit more adventurous in a few of the sections, but you can really hear him on the cleaner parts and his tone is the right counterbalance for these guitars. The production of Behind the Emerald Starscape is highly professional, the measure of many peers within the genre, with the band having the actual foresight to send it over to Finnvox Studios for mastering.
There are 11 tracks here, two of which are instrumental, and I actually found myself gravitating more towards the later half of the album since there are some stunners there. "Bridges Burned" is a mature piece which opens with a mere plodding bass and clean guitar, then blossoming into an arch of melody accompanied subtly by McIntosh, before he explodes into the verse with a latticework of memorable vocals, like a deeper Ray Alder. "La Fee Verte" is a healthy draught of absinthe given musical voice as a progressive labyrinth of heavy grooves and thirst quenching solos, which also seems to have inspired the album's cover art. "Outreach" is considerably complex for such an accessible track, with excellent vocal harmonies. But there are also some excellent songs early on, like the engrossing "Lady of the Sea", the graceful "Don't Just Exist" (which includes a rare synth line, the band is largely guitar-driven), the quirky instrumental "Kirsnabogg" or the wild western saloon surf that opens the gothic prog metal of "Beauty in Darkness". The only song here I couldn't embrace was the opener "Cosmic Eden". The music is fantastic, as are the clean, harmonized vocals, but it's probably the most excessive as far as the Night in Gales-like melodeath snarls which felt a little overboard and unnecessary.
But really, if a few vocal lines are all I can complain about here, Sorizon is off to an impressive start. Most bands don't have their shit organized after a decade or so, but in two short years these Californians have mustered a great debut that nearly rivals the better work of Kamelot or Symphony X? There's no real chink in the armor here now, so I can only imagine what the band might come up with if given a few more years of gestation. Without being intensely poetic, the lyrics of Sorizon manage to stir up an enthusiasm for both the future and the mysteries of the world's past. They're a band of dreamers, and when you listen closely to the music they create together, the dreams are already well within reach of their galaxy-wide grasp.
Highlights: Bridges Burned, La Fee Verte, Don't Just Exist, Lady of the Sea
Verdict: Win [8.25/10] (I strive to know)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TARTAREAN DESIRE
REVIEW: Sorizon - Behind the Emerald Starscape self-released, 2009 8.5/10 Man oh man, you just know these guys are ready to compete from the get-go. Sorizon might hail from the prog-bereft landscape of Orange County, California, but this unsigned quintet is so committed to the task that they recorded this friggin’ debut with expertise and then shipped it off to be mixed at Finnvox Studios by renowned soundsmith Mika Jussila. What we’ve got on offer is a harnessing of all the good qualities of the progressive metal realm. It’s not as though the references are too arcane – a bit of Pain of Salvation, old Fates Warning, maybe some Eldritch and other Italian bands from the mid-‘90s – but it all hangs together with sensible adornment and consummate good taste. There are a few concessions to death metal vocal “harmonizing,” but not as chips-all-in as the likes of Into Eternity or The Arkitecht. The drums could use a bit more oomph and punch, but that’s just more of my usual nitpicking. All in all, this is awesome stop-start madness, wild solos flailing in all directions, credited to either respective guitarist, but never feeling like a mutually assured ego-stroke. Sensory, Nightmare, Inside Out, et al, your next cause célèbre is right here in front of you. written by Matthew Kirshner
