Discovering some new-to-me music…

Helion Prime, a sciency power metal band from California, has a new album out, called Question Everything, and the title song could really be the anthem for some of us these days. Mary Zimmer’s vocals are beautiful (joined on the title track by Heather Michele, their former vocalist), and as I listened, I kept catching interesting lyrics that sent me back to the liner notes for more info. The track that really caught my attention is “Photo 51”; how many other song lyrics do you know that contain the words “research” , “phosphate chain”, and “science”? Not many! (Check out the lyric video, and you can find out why Photo 51 matters—fascinating stuff!) The album is built around a group of science heroes—Albert Einstein, Alan Turing, Rosalind Franklin, Katherine Johnson (sadly the women’s names are less familiar) and others—whose dogged pursuit of truth has advanced our understanding of the universe. 

Myrath is an Arabic progressive metal band from Tunisia, recommended by my friend Zaina Arekat (you can check out her music here). Myrath is the first band from their country to sign with a European label. Mostly in their present line-up since 2007, but rooted in 2001 when founder Malek Ben Arbia was 13 years old, Myrath has heavy guitars, strings, cool vocals mixing English and Arabic—all coming together for a fantastic sound. Their most recent album is 2019’s Shehili. Try these beautiful, mysterious videos, “Dance” and “No Holding Back”.

TaleTeller is a Hungarian symphonic metal band that focuses their albums around a single story cycle.  Sárközi Edina,their female vocalist, has an exquisite voice. Their new album, The Path, is due out December 21. Check out “Aurora”. 

Finally, I cannot deny my regular craving to spin an In Flames disc every so often—they’ve really become my go-to band when I need music to make the day better. Lately, it’s Sounds of a Playground Fading.  The first time I read the title of the album I knew I would buy it; I could not resist the poetry of the title. This album is among the first of the “new age” In Flames. While I enjoy some unclean vocals and screaming, I do need a good melody and great lyrics. This album points to the new path In Flames has chosen, and I love it. In Flameswe trust!