Review Summary: Hope is nearly as enjoyable as before: a rough diamond hidden amongst sandy dunes.
Hope showcases a band starting out in their first sketch phase. The fact that Myrath were attempting to mimic a style of music is quite apparent, and their unique voice hadn’t bloomed yet. Progressive metal is displayed in the style of Symphony X and Dream Theater. They would go on to produce albums with an exotic twist, with their land of Tunisia as inspiration, and would soon land their unique sound. That concept is apparent here, though unrefined and just beginning. In their second album, Desert Call, Myrath would learn better ways to serve exotic percussion and the like, while Tales of the Sands ultimately had their sound perfected.
This was Myrath’s debut. Chest voice vocals are belted out with barely any catering towards editing them, along with cheesy keyboards, and effortlessly mixed time signatures. It’s a very old sounding album now, though the booming drums and guitars bring immense punch — same with the commanding vocals. There’s a charm to the retro feel. That being said, the incredibly synthetic keyboards are more gimmicky than epic. While certain elements of the production have not aged well, nothing was going to stop the band from producing captivating music. The production is old, but their tactics were powerful.
Myrath’s music shines through their instrumental sections. Seemingly divergent time signature ideas, melodies, and riffs collide as though brothers in a classic showcasing of immense talent. The drummer engages in excellent flurries of tom-tom fills and double bass pedal work, setting the head-banging tone. The singing is of equal metal stance. The dual vocal attack combines an aggressive voice with a fairly pretty one, and the match is smooth. The vocals leading the way are overtly reminiscent of Symphony X, a copycat perhaps, though quite charismatic.
One motif carries the entire band’s efforts. Throughout every song, the focus is on hooks. The riffs offered are incredibly diverse, and joining with the skillful drums and twisting time signatures created high-energy electricity. The band’s knack for catchy melodies also set them apart somewhat. Despite very colourfully varied sections of surprising twists and turns, a classic rhythmic approach is undeniable. Basically, the music doesn’t get too complicated. Lane changes in their songwriting relax rather than confuse, in a surprisingly easy composition to sink into. Myrath’s passion for their craft is evident with every instrument, and with exceptional songwriting, Hope remains a prog metal album for the ages.
