Mercury Falling - Into The Void (2012)

Mercury Falling - Into The Void

If ever you needed proof that getting noticed in the crowded pool of Powering Progressive Metal is extremely tough, then the fact that the excellent Into The Void by Germany's Mercury Falling is the band's third unheralded album should be it. If you still need more evidence of the difficulties of grasping the merest moment in the metal public eye, then factor in that this little beauty has been kicking about for almost a year now without the merest hint of a fanfare, and you shouldn't need any more convincing.

More intent on hitting hard through Tobias Galmarini's thick swathes of guitar and the killer grit-vocals of Michael Pabst than prancing up and down fret boards or keyboards - although Tobias's brother Daniel does a sterling job on the old ivories - this is Progressive Power Metal with a huge emphasis placed on the Power. Again however don't be fooled into thinking that this is all foot on the monitor, double kick thundering (although all of that does feature), with Mercury Falling instead more intent on using mid-paced songs to get their striking, well aimed message across. Pabst really is a cracking weapon, with his ability to switch between rough throated wail, clean voiced baritone and a charismatic standard singing style, offering up interesting tones on the likes of "In Dark Waters" or "Into The Void". Musically this is intentionally dark stuff and while the keyboards pile on layers of atmosphere and sometimes with a keenly melodic bent, it is the combination of strafing riffs, drum barrages from Maical Panitz and bass throngs from Paul Viertal that drives most of these tracks to their powerful conclusions.

"Revolution" hints at Kamelot, "Wash Away My Sins" adds intensity similar to Inmoria, while "Us" adds a little more keyboards and a soaring guitar solo over a piano backing to bring a more Symphony X tone to proceedings. When you add the more insistent Vanden Plas like - although less technical - "Queen Of Pain" or the almost Rammstein growl and thump of "Stranger In Us All" and while never exactly original, Into The Void certainly jumps about frequently enough to remove any thoughts of pigeon holing. Something that has obviously occurred to Oliver Palotai (Kamelot/Doro), Jens Luwdig (Edguy) and Piet Sielck (Iron Saviour/Savage Circus), who between them guest on, co-produce and master this release.

Into The Void is one of the stronger Power/Progressive Metal albums I've heard so far in 2013. The fact it is an early 2012 release definitely should not dissuade you from adding this to your must hear list. Time to seek out albums one (Panta Rhei) and two (Human Nature) methinks.

copas from http://www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=14400

Tracklist:
1. Days Of Redemption
2. Into The Void
3. Stranger In Us All
4. Book Of Hate
5. In Dark Waters
6. Us
7. Queen Of Pain
8. Wash Away My Sins
9. When Worlds Collide
10. Revolution
11. Long Way Out Of Hell

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Mercury Falling - Human Nature (2006)

Mercury Falling - Human Nature

Earlier in 2012, Mercury Falling’s Into The Void provided one of the most genuine surprises of this year with its raw mixture of German prog and power. It was only a matter of time before I started digging back in these guys’ discography, and it has turned up another gem in the sophomore record Human Nature.

Despite the gap of six years between the two albums, Human Nature doesn’t sound a whole lot different than the band’s subsequent release. Riffs are still ripping, melodies are still memorable, and the whole affair is drenched in a bittersweet melancholy. “Undertow” is a very effective opener with its progressive keyboard lines and shouting match of a chorus. Compared to the follow-up, this one is slightly more top-heavy. The first four songs all hit home hard: “Welcome Home” could be a lost Iron Savior-tune from a dark period they never had, and “New Gods” takes a few pages out of the Brainstorm-book. Not to say Mercury Falling capitalizes on the success of other acts. The influences are clear, but come into their own in the band’s signature sound of hard-edged groundwork and emotional overlays.

“Sacred Love” is about as radio-friendly as Mercury Falling will probably ever get, moving the guitars to the back and boasting a rapturous refrain. Another highlight is the unsettling “Different Eyes”, expertly underlining this band’s talented use of catchphrases (“There is no compromise!”). On Into The Void, Mercury Falling dodged the obligatory ballad, a lesson not yet learned on the predecessor. Luckily, “Hold On To My Heart” (perhaps an homage to the identically titled W.A.S.P. song off The Crimson Idol?) has a strong piano hook to drag you into the disc’s second half.

Here matters take a slight downturn. Not that there’s anything wrong with the next three tracks, but they lack some of the energy and individuality of the welcoming salvo. “Human Nature” itself picks up the slack again and is topped by another shining chorus. Why it took Mercury Falling six years to top this album, and only slightly, with the equally outstanding Into The Void, would be a good interview question, and one that I mean to ask them. For now, my listening experience of this band scores two out of two, and now I need to get my hands on the debut Panta Rhei. Don’t wait up.

copas from http://blackwindmetal.com/mercury-falling-human-nature/

Tracklist:
01. Undertow
02. Welcome Home
03. Sacred Love
04. New Gods
05. Different Eyes
06. Hold on to my Heart
07. Alter Ego
08. Scars
09. Hell inside me
10. Human Nature

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Mercury Falling - Panta Rhei (2003)

Mercury Falling - Panta Rhei

Tracklist:
01. Invitation
02. Pandora`s Box
03. Of Poets and Madmen
04. Perpetual Sky
05. Awake
06. Panta Rhei
07. Another World
08. Lies
09. Aeons of Time
10. Take away my pain
11. Silent Tomb

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