(Melodic Power/Progressive Metal) Delpht - Living In Fantasy - 2005, FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

As I already have stated in my HEAVENFALLS review, Brazil has a vast Power Metal tradition (we have over 25 Power Metal bands from Brazil on our site) and the maritime metropolis Sao Paulo is beyond doubt the most prolific with over 200 bands to offer. DELPHT fit into this category like a glove. Well, don't get me wrong that does not necessarily mean quality, but on the whole the standards are set really high.
The band, which appears to have been baptized after the town Delft from the Netherlands, has seen the light of day in the year 1994, albeit with an almost completely different line up. From the starting line-up only drummer Alexandre Callari is still with the band, but it seems that these changes have not affected the quality of the music, because what the quintet offers on their second album "Living In Fantasy" is really good stuff.
The band is described as Progressive Metal but there is actually not much progressiveness there, instead really dynamic and powerful, like proven by the opener "Braveheart", which begins with a cool melody and double-bass, than changes gears and becomes a bit calmer, but the double bass returns in the chorus, and then the genuine melody follows again. All this played really tight, and with a respectable performance by front man Mario Pastore (also TAILGUNNERS, REVENGE and ACID STORM), always melodic but here and there a bit rougher.
This rhythmical diversity goes for the most of the tracks on this album, and thanks to a dynamic implementation quickly becomes a trademark of the band, without being carried to excess and without losing the plot of the songs. No matter if ballad-like ("Life Goes On") powerful and epic ("Motherland"), with a very good chorus and dynamic ("L.I.F.") or just simply fast and melodic ("Battle Field") the Brazilians show good skills and it is fun to listen to. Only "Save Me" (except for the catchy chorus) does not really have a flow.
DELPHT addresses rather to the fans of traditional Power Metal, but even if you are not really into this genre you should give this band a chance, because they reveal more diversity and a more powerful vocal performance then most of their genre colleagues. Highly recommended!