(Heavy/Power Metal) [CD] Mindfeeder - Endless Storm - 2013, FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

If you see an album come by via Quebecois Metalodic Records, you know to expect two things: A great cover artwork and some heavily Euro influenced power metal. Enter their latest offering to the metal masses - Mindfeeder from Portugal and their full-length debut Endless Storm. Having been completely in the dark of their existence prior to this album, research at least has shown that there are no recycled songs from their 2006 EP Mind Revolution at least, but either way - I honestly had not expected this to be such a killer release!

Power metal it is, but it is not just a power metal-by-numbers affair, instead we see a surprising influx of both heaviness and epic passages, all embedded into a powerful and clear production courtesy of none other than Iron Savior Piet Sielck, who also has lent his vocal talents to the song “Together”, which in the end is a win-win situation. Endless Storm escapes the terms ‘flower metal’ and ‘happy metal’ thanks to the blazing guitars and soaring vocals, which highlight the compositions that show the maturity of the band, with great melodies that stick to your memory right away, but never get simple, and their ability to create a great dynamic flow that many of their genre mates would die for to get even close to.

Often when a CD grips you from the get-go, it has a tendency to lose at least some of that effect over time, but Mindfeeder’s debut has held itself way up there even after many listens and if anything Endless Storm has managed to drill itself ever deeper into my brain cells. The keyboards give nice accents, but while having a steady presence never push to the fore. The Portuguese also use well executed choirs that never get overblown, though, just look at driving opener “The Call” or the very varied and crunchy “Colours of the Skies”, where we also get some female guest vocals accentuating Leo’s strong voice.

Even when the guys go straight and uptempo for pretty much the whole song, they never get one-dimensional and these chorus choirs are just kickass (“Feed Your Mind”). “Together” did not take long to reveal the guest vocalist of the album - Piet Sielck of IRON SAVIOR fame, his striking voice is instantly recognizable and it works great with Leo’s vocals in this hymn.

But the ultimate killer is at the end of the album (bonus track “Our Side of Life” not considered): “Memories (Suite in IV Acts)”. Just a few days into 2014 this is a serious contender to be one of the power metal tracks of the year hands down. Clocking in at almost 10 minutes it delivers a great balance between melodies and heaviness, keeping the tension up throughout the whole song, with a great crunch in the guitars, an epic chorus, even some Gregorian chants and growls. After a bit more than 5 minutes the song could have ended, but after a calm guitar interlude they re-erect the song more and more until it culminates in the chorus once more, bringing the track full circle.

Review written by Alex for www.metal-observer.com

Leonel Silva - Vocals
Sérgio Temudo - Bass
Ricardo Martins - Keyboards
Nuno Piri - Guitars
Nuno Carranca - Guitars
Henrique Sobral - Drums