Skyfire - Spectral
Arise ( 2004 )
I absolutely love when something like this happens and unfortunately it doesn't that often: I'm in my favourite record shop (which happens to be Donosti Rock in San Sebastian, without a doubt the best rock and metal shop there is) and I hear something that sounds familiar enough but can't identify. I can tell they're Scandinavian, after all I have played enough Scandinavian music along the years to recognize the common factor (they simply belong on Sex to 9) but I have no clue who they are. So I ask the shop assistant and after a few moments of language barrier (this band's name in Spanish doesn't sound anything like it really is believe me!) I find myself just buying the record on the spot. Forgive my ignorance but I had never heard of Skyfire and I wonder why, considering that not only this is not their debut album but they're already working on a new one (hurrah!). That's precisely what makes them special, this is not a band jumping on the Melodic Death bandwagon, they've had the time to create and polish their own sound and still remain fresh and new. If you're a fan of power metal there are plenty of keyboards, twiddly guitars and tunes to tickle your fancy and the excellent raw vocals add the aggression and energy that will delight fans of melodic death.

I know some cruel minds will find enough similarities with Children of Bodom and the likes to knock these guys down as mere copycats, but I find that such a dangerous game, all bands can sound like somebody else at some point! I have enough tracks already planed for the show and that can only be a good sign!