Boarding alongside Evergrey in their current adventure across Europe, Virtual Symmetry caught my attention through its old school view of prog rock and the virtuosity that comes with it undoubtedly. The band is supporting Evergrey whilst promoting their new record, Veils Of Illumination, that will see the light of day in just a matter of days, on the 6th of December.
With its eight tracks and an epic 20-minute suite to wrap it up, the album borrows a lot of the elements we’d expect from the great ones in the current and past prog scene, such as Dream Theater, with some insightful touches of ethereal and heavy driven solos.
“Heart’s Resonance” seeks the truth in a sea of driving rhythms and a passionate communion between soft vocals and eerie keyboards. While “Canvas of Souls” keeps us in pretty much the same mind frame, “Blades of Inner Battles” marches on energetically and powerfully driven by a continuous tango between hard riffs and melodic solos, with its dramatic echos binding everything in a cohesive and catchy whole.
The sort of interlude feel of “The Quest Within” brings forward that epic touch of the genre, whilst songs such as “Whispers of the Ancients” fall successfully in the ballad category that wouldn’t miss out from being included in a record of this caliber. The 80s feel takes center stage, and the vocals manage to shine in their own way, silently and calmly guiding the piece to peaks of wavy emotions.
The ambitious 20 minute composition, “Eightfold Path,” starts off melancholic, the piano gently moving its mighty statement to the feminine supporting vocals that offer the background needed to uplift the leader’s voice. The song slowly increases its tempo towards a tornado of riffs and a theatrical reach that encompanses this epic journey through layers of dramatic and fascinating melodies. Despite its length, the track doesn’t fail to capture its listener’s attention and is quite reminiscent of some of IQ‘s longer endeavours. The outro closes out dreaming wide open of new futures and continuations of the story.
Veils Of Illumination is nothing short of good moments across the board, the band’s clear powerful moves, both instrumentally and vocally, being put on display through majestic passages, a balanced alternation between talent showcases and emotions and a passion for epic touches.
Veils Of Illumination is available on digital platforms immediately, but a new song will be monthly released until May 2025. Pre-order the physical copy here: www.virtualsymmetry.com. Follow Virtual Symmetry on Facebook and Instagram.
Veils Of Illumination is nothing short of good moments across the board, the band's clear powerful moves, both instrumentally and vocally, being put on display through majestic passages, a balanced alternation between talent showcases and emotions and a passion for epic touches.
