Eternal Idol - Renaissance

Genre: Power Metal, Symphonic Metal; -
Any new Fabio Lione (Angra, Turilli/Lione Rhapsody, ex- Rhapsody of Fire) should be a huge, momentous occasion to mark in ones calendars. The man is incredibly productive, often cramming out several albums a year. Renaissance is the second full length from his Eternal Idol project, a symphonic power metal project under the Frontiers Records banner. Claudia Duronio (Serenade) is new to the fold, replacing Giorgia Colleluori as Lione’s sparring partner in the vocals department. The sound is incredibly Italian, with a twist toward the poppy and overly accessible; debut album The Unrevealed Secret (2016) was by no means a perfect album, but it showed an idea that Lione and a few of the musicians seemed interested in, one that could work with a few developments and stellar songwriting. Something that the utterly boring Renaissance absolutely does not produce.

Eternal Idol - Renaissance

From the first song the sound is just… flat and boring. There is little to no luster or color blending into the melodic weaves. The rhythm section just meanders; Enrico Fabris plodding on with no fanfare on the drums while Andrea Buratto’s (Hell in the Club) bass is hardly audible at all. The guitars are a little livelier, but the sound is flat and there is no life or personality to the leads, while any and all riffage just plods on, much like the rhythm section. A power metal song, they say, is only as good as its chorus, and a few songs in it becomes ridiculously apparent that there hasn’t even been an attempt at creating something beyond the average; none of the participants seem the least bit interested in being there at all. There are those small builds sometimes where the music seems to lead to a big blastoff; some flashy solo or instrumental piece where Nick Savio (Hollow Haze) gets to show off, but then it just falls flat and there is more of the same. By the time third song, Dark Eclipse, fades out it feels like we’re a half hour in, but the album keeps going on with more of the same.

The mid paced tunes with their slow cooking rhythm sections, near absent guitars keep following one another until it all turns into mush. But okay. So. Highlights. There are a few, emphasis on few, and they don’t actually stretch to even the entirety of a single song. Savio’s solo in Not the Same is decent, a fairly sweet way to fade the song out, while the rest of the song does little to earn or build up to it. There are also some nice guitar harmonies and leads in Flying Over You, while the ten minute title track is the only decent song on the album, presenting a bigger production and some fleshed out ideas and performances - though it is too long. Duronio takes the reins on her own in The Edge, where she shows talent in a frail, delicate delivery, which otherwise seems entirely wasted on the rest of the lackluster material. Lione himself attempts at times to deliver, but never with the poise and regality we all know he can deliver. He seems content just sticking to the dreary semi balladry and mid paced non enthusiastic symphonic poppers. Renaissance is a chore to get through, and has few, if any, redeeming qualities. Whoever decided the world needed this was sorely mistaken.

 

Standout tracks: Renaissance

 

    

 
Musikvideo: Eternal Idol - Into the Darkness