| Musical Style: Heavy Metal | Produced By: |
| Record Label: No Dust | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2025 | Artist Website: EchoSoul |
| Tracks: 10 | Rating: 90% |
| Running Time: 49:47 |
EchoSoul is an all-new choice for hard music enthusiasts seeking a heavy metal band that comes loaded with musical diversity. As it applies to EchoSoul, heavy metal is an open-ended statement, particularly in light of how it branches into traditional, power, progressive, thrash and even extreme metal on its May of 2025 No Dust Records sophomore album Time Of The Dragon. It works in light of how the Fort Wayne, Indiana based act delivers the total package. Songwriting is spot on (noting the work of composer and lyricist Guy Hinton); musicianship is of similar quality (Hinton proves equally adept on guitar, as do the host of guest guitarists); lead vocals shine equally (front man Rob Lungren brings a raspy and gravelly style akin to former Saint vocalist David Nelson).
Even cover art stands out as some of the years finest, with a portrait of a warrior angel raising a sword above a fallen demon underfoot. Lyrics stay true to the spiritual warfare themes - liner notes thank ‘Jesus Christ, without nothing is possible!’ - but also draw upon the Book of Revelation and end times prophecy. Opener “Prologue” follows suite in featuring Book of Revelation themed narration focusing on the beast, false prophet, seven-year tribulation and the Lion of Judah triumphing in the end.
Albums title track ensues in a classic US power metal direction akin to Jacobs Dream, Recon and Inner Siege. “Time Of The Dragon” exhilarates with bounding energy, subduing double kick drum, harrowing riffs and provoking vocals but also entices as a huge European melody akin to Theocracy rises above the surface. This one proves there is a heavier and melodic side to EchoSoul. Lyric snippet:
His time is short
And his rage is paid in blood
The time of the dragon is aimed towards us
The saints will suffer
And the devil may have his day
But the Lion of Judah will crush the enemy
The Lion is coming
For the head of the dragon!
Group unveils its progressive side on the seven minute “Path of The Righteous”. Delicately done opening moments hint of a ballad prior to the song detonating, at times explosive to thrash like riffs and pulsating low end (vocals occasionally border on the extreme) and others melodically inclined by gracious vocal melodies and astute guitar harmonies (reminding of turn of the century power/progressive metal act Antithesis). The final two minutes are instrumental in ranging from galloping incentives to calmer moments to classical overtures.
“Sister Suicide” is a full on metal ballad. First two minutes are temperate as graceful harmonies and acoustic underpinnings shore up the eloquent propensity. Remainder to the song, however, makes an added forthright statement as rhythm guitar fades in to create a provoking effect. First guest guitarist Giampiero Presilli contributes a stretch of poignant soloing. Lyric snippet:
I see the scars, and I see you hurting
But you are not alone, you are not alone
Sister suicide
Did the darkness say your not worthy
Did it feed you more lies
Sister suicide
Don’t cry, let me sing you a lullaby
Oh, the darkness does not know you, it will only betray
You have a light inside you, and it will never fade
“Instruments Of Chaos” embodies six minutes of technically intricate power metal. Song hard charges from the get go, bursting to indignant double kick drum and portent rhythms awash in swarthy residuals, but it fails to forsake the accessible, identifying manner in which Lungren reaches for the sky and exhibits an ascending role to his delivery. Again, the at times heavy and others melodic Antithesis comparison comes into play.
“Hollowed Ground” starts to several seconds of blowing wind ahead of turning into a traditional metal mauler that would not sound out of place on any recent Saint comeback album. It hits hard from a mid-tempo standpoint, awash in surprisingly catchy hooks that draw in at moments notice and upraised rhythm guitar allowing an incursive element. Second guest guitarist Andy La Rocque (King Diamond) shines equally. Lyric snippet:
While walking along, under the blood of the moon
I got a sense of something beyond
It called out to me, and my hair stoop on end
Where am I, what did I come from?
Circling me, from left to right, I seen strange words
Each one of them written in stone
What laid before me, inside the unseen
Was more than just flesh and bone
I identify with “Invisible Empire” as creatively diverse. It maintains the straight on metal themes but with periodic extreme vocals trading off with Lungren’s signature gravelly form. I find the song barbed and scalding but not to the point of repetition, realized from manner in which catchy hooks gravitate to the surface- the EchoSoul songwriting is spot on. Hinton proves no small talent lead guitar wise.
Speaking of diversity, “Split” ensues as a high caliber instrumental as opposed to deep cut filler. It finds the band firing on all cylinders - tightly woven low-end signatures and soloing to taste dominate the elaborate focal point - and retentive guitar harmonies prevailing to keep the song fresh. Impression is a choice joining of harmonies and practiced musicianship.
Back to aggressive territory with “Die Demon Die”. Neo-classical riffing ala Narnia gets things going ahead of browbeating verse sections compelled by another extreme and clean (almost Dio tinged) lead vocal tradeoff. Song further darkens from repeating its title in dour fashion for the implacable (and exceedingly catchy) refrain. Again, I cannot say enough good things about songwriting. Lyric snippet:
Die, die demon die
You have no power over my soul or my mind
Die, die demon die
The source of my strength
Is my Fathers design
And though the storm keeps
Raging on, on and on
These attacks from the enemy
Be gone, gone, gone
Album closes strongly to “A New Conspiracy”, an intricate power thrash piece pulsating of the bullheaded as mid-tempo riffs drive with grueling intensity, and harmonies emit of technical Deliverance like authority. Refrain finds Lungren imparting an emotional delivery along lines of David Taylor (Jacobs Dream), albeit not quite hitting Taylor’s renowned high-pitched range. What we have is another example of dark but catchy heavy metal done EchoSoul style. Lyric snippet:
When the light ascends
Darkness will be exposed
It’s just a matter of time
And all the world will know
With the Word in hand
And a sword by our side
We stand to right the wrongs
Standing on shoulders of the brave
Drawing strength from everyone
Time Of The Dragon represents a fantastic multifarious heavy metal album. Whether traditional, power, progressive thrash or extreme laden, songwriting could not be more inspired. Only particular preventing a score in the 95% range (or higher) is another song or two of similar quality to the base nine. All the ingredients otherwise are present for a top five album of the year candidate in terms of top musicianship, vocals and production. Lone complaint is that inexplicably packaging omits lyrics for “Instruments Of Chaos”. Regardless, I cannot help but think great things are in the works for EchoSoul.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Prologue” (1:31), “Time Of The Dragon” (4:42), “Path Of The Righteous” (7:03), “Sister Suicide” (4:45), “Instruments Of Chaos” (5:56), “Hollowed Ground” (5:28), “Invisible Empire” (5:45), “Split” (4:31), “Die Demon Die” (5:07), “A New Conspiracy” (4:57)
Musicians
Rob Lungren - Lead Vocals
Guy Hinton - Guitars & Extreme Vocals
Randy Walton - Bass
Tyler Witte - Drums
Fabio Alessandrini - Drums
Guest Musicians
Andy La Rocque - Lead Guitar
Giampiero Presilli - Lead Guitar
Brady Gladieux - Lead Guitar
Artem Iefimov - Additional Guitars
