Italian symphonic metal outfit Eleventh Hour's debut album, 'Memory of a Lifetime Journey', reminds me of Rhapsody and Symphony X melded with a little bit of Epica. Incredible arrangements, epic sound, Malmsteen-esque solos and solid lead vocals make this a good first effort but, the album still stays confined to this genre. That's not to say that it doesn't have its merits. Some of the arranging and instrumentation on the album, such as "Sleeping in my Dreams" and "Long Road Home", are outstanding and very moving and the vocal performance of Alessandro Del Vecchio is pretty damn impressive. But I just found myself feeling as though I had heard these songs somewhere else before. Unfortunately that's a pitfall of this genre with so many bands sounding very similar to one another and very little, if any, digression or individuality present. This isn't something that people will snap up for its originality but it will definitely be well received by fans of this genre as it is still a quality album and a helluva a debut.
(Armageddon)
(Nuclear Blast)
(Peaceville)
(AFM)
(Independent)
(SAOL)
(Massacre)
(Nuclear Blast)
(SPV/Steamhammer)
(Napalm)
(Roadrunner)
(AFM)
(Century Media)
(Mytone)
(Vendlus Records)
(Universal)
(Napalm)
(Inner Wound)
(Sonic Age)
(Driven Music)
(Massacre)
(Century Media)
(Sanctuary Records)
(Nuclear Blast)
(Mystic Productions)
