Album Review: OVERTURES – Entering The Maze

Sleaszy Rider Records (Release date – Out now)

Overtures are an Italian metal outfit from Gorizia and ‘Entering The Maze’ is the band’s third album. Metal infused with a large dose of melody is the order of the day and the band impress throughout. Taking cues from classic metal acts and adding in power metal touches the guys produce melody laden tracks complete with great playing and vocals.

‘The Maze’ kicks things off in fine fashion, a full on twin-guitar metal romp that has a twisting main riff with an Eastern influence and a soaring chorus. ‘Under The Northern Star’ follows in similar fashion, again with some excellent guitar work from Marco Falanga and Adriano Crasnich.

The highlights of the album for me are the next two tracks, ‘Of Nightmares’ and ‘Savior’, as the band find themselves in full power metal mode with heavy riffs and vocal harmonies aplenty. Frontman Michele Guaitoli is particularly impressive on these with a strong delivery giving the tracks a symphonic edge.

As well as the full on rock tracks the guys manage to slip in a ballad in the shape of ‘In The Middle Of Nowhere’ which reminded me of some of Maiden’s more recent efforts. The album is rounded off with the epic ‘The Oracle’ which is a well-constructed track that again showcases the band’s talents and once again has harmony and melody in spades.

Along with the album there is a DVD, containing official videos, live recordings from the studio and audio tracks, which is an interesting addition and shows the band in full flight.

‘Entering The Maze’ is an impressive release and an album that deserves to be heard. Overtures may be one of the best kept secrets in Italy, go check them out.

****

David Wilson

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)