Vision Divine

Vision Divine is an important part of the italian power metal scene that landed in the late 90s, leaded by Olaf Thorsen, a key figure in this genre who also is founder of the illustrious band Labyrinth. But, while contemporary Labyrinth's work on "Return to Heaven Denied" is much more progressive, this album, performs a more direct, straight power metal in the vein of Helloween or Rage; a fine example of the italian approach on this genre.

The keyboard usage often remembers Stratovarius, though I would say that here they are almost on par with guitars. Indeed we have not only guitar vs keyboard outstanding solo battles (check out the track titled "Vision Divine") it's like every guitar movement has his keyboard replica, giving us an constant and interesting sonic dialogue. To share it's attention with keyboards doesn't means that guitars are loose, at all. The riffage lines are great, adding a rightful power fee to the overall sound. Vocals are on charge of Rhapsody's vocalist Fabio Lione who at this moment is perhaps at his pride, and makes it clear.

Album opens with "New Eden", a true statement of what you're about to listen. Most songs are double kick drumming, fast tempo hymns as the catchy "The Whisper" or the powerful "Forever Young". The mid tempo tracks, like the aforementioned "Vision Divine", are equally intense. At the end there's a beautiful ballad and the Europe's cover completes the album's 56 minutes length, that runs without a pause.

I just have some complaints with the sound mixing. Its not bad, and maybe they wanted to create a distinctive sound, but some elements, like the drumming could have receive a better treatement. But this could be only a personal appreciation. The cover art, in the other hand, is superb.

Though this album was released twenty years ago, it has aged very well, like a good italian wine, attracting the appreciation of new generations of power metallers and becoming kind of a cult album on this genre.

Vision Divine is born as a sort of side project from the Rhapsody member Fabio Lione, some members of Labyrinth (Andrew mc Pauls, Mat Stancioiu and Olaf Thorsen who is no more in Labyrinth now) and Andrea "Tower" Torricini.
This is the debut that shows a beatiful cover art and a sure maturity from the musicians.
At the first listening the album could seem too much keyboard oriented, it seems to sound pop! you can keep the CD and throw it out of the window.... or you can continue to listen and listen again to each little shade.
I chose for the second option! well, this CD is not an absolute masterpiece, but it can be appreciated.
Each musician has done an impeccable work, and the songs are quite good!
The opener "New Eden" and the following "On the Wings of the Storm" are perfect, they start fast and particularly the second shows a great keyboarding work.
"Black Mask of Fear" is a mid tempo that surprises with its plots made of guitars and keyboards and its unceasing double bass drumming.
It' s time for "Exodus"... it starts quite good but the simple structure and the ingenuousness of some parts, especially the refrain, make this song sounding to much pop...for my palate!
"The whisper" begins with a great intro by keyboard, then the double drumming and the splendid voice of Fabio break. Great song!!!
A Church' s organ introduces "Forgotten Worlds", a very good instrumental, the only trak integrally written by Mc Pauls (keyboards) but is one of the less keyboard oriented pieces of the album.
The title track comes out darker that the rest, with a really great slow chorus! I like its decadent rhythm.
Ok... everyone can make mistakes in life, Vision Divine breaks the album with an senseless cover of "The Final Countdown" by the sweden (ex) band Europe.... our Italian heroes didn' t give a personality to the track and performed a perfect copy of the original (that I don' t dislike, but it doesn' t sound pure metal)!
Right... I usually skip the song and pass to "The Miracle".
Wow... this is VISION DIVINE... I love this song...! The voice of Fabio surely gives a life that this song should not have without him!
Great riffing by Olaf starts "Forever Young", just another little genial touch for this album. Maybe the five minutes of quick drumming could exhaust us... so it arrives the slow "Of Light and Darkness" totally played by piano and singed by a melancholy Fabio.
In the end a female voice appears too!