The most recent Starchild album, “Magic Well,” ranges from classic heavy metal to power metal – clearly influenced by a range of artists from the 80s through the early 2000’s. There appears to be a wide variety of influence from early Savatage, Helloween, and Iron Maiden up through the likes of Rhapsody. Captivating guitar lines and vocal ranges can be heard on songs like “War Isn’t Over Yet” and “Violent Violin.” The vocalist harnesses a powerful range reminiscent of Bruce Dickinson, Lizzy Borden, Don Dokken, and several other old school masters of the 80’s era – and the synth work only emphasizes the source of this era’s influence on the band tastefully. Additionally, the band’s ability to shift this traditional style of heavy metal to more somber and dramatic tunes is quite impressive. Last, the production is perfect for the sound the band is seeking to capture. Most importantly, each song flows well into the subsequent piece. All in all, I would highly recommend this masterpiece to any fan of traditional heavy metal/power metal and I look forward to hearing what the band does next.
Starchild: Facebook
Release Year: 2023
Label: Metalapolis Records
Category: Album
Country: Germany
Reviewed by Scott Brison
