Style: 90s progressive heavy metal (clean vocals)
Review by: Sam
Country: Brazil
Release date: 7 August, 2021
Heavy metal is not a genre I generally associate with an album title like Painter of the Universe, and especially not with that album art. Artsy sci-fi themes are generally reserved for more extreme subgenres of metal like thrash or symphonic death. The vibe fits better knowing that this is also clearly a prog metal band, but I still need some more musical pretentiousness before it fits. There’s not much info out there on Anderuvius, so I guess we’ll just have to judge them by how well they paint their musical universe.
The sound here is almost exactly what you’d expect from an average obscure 90s prog metal band you’d pull up from Metal-Archives: heavy and/or thrash metal-inspired riffs, the same spacy synths EVERYWHERE, prog that only really becomes apparent during the bridge or when they’re doing a ballad, and a Geoff Tate-impersonating vocalist. But now also with actually listenable production. That is not to say this is a bad record – far from it – but it does come with some clear limitations. It’s quite coincidental I came back into reviewing for this album. I’ve been digging through Metal-Archives for quality obscure 90s prog/power metal records for a RateYourMusic prog/power list I’ve been working on, and this album fits right in with most bands I stumbled upon during that quest.
Broadly speaking, I enjoy Anderuvius more when they do prog than when they do heavy metal. If I had to point a main culprit, it’s definitely the singer Adrian Blakk. He often sounds strained and try-hard when doing metal vocals. I can tell he’s talented. He’s got a good range and decent power, and his tone reminds me a lot of a young Daniel Gildenlow, but he needs more training before it sounds natural. He sounds better during the gentler bits, and it’s no wonder the ballad “Stains in the Shadows” is one of the album’s better cuts. But besides vocal qualms, the heavy metal riffage is mostly solid, if unspectacular. The real fun on this album begins when they start swirling with odd-time riffs or bring the keys into the spotlight. They make the songs just a little more dynamic than your standard heavy metal would be. The little twists and turns make each song feel like a small adventure, while still retaining coherency and remain easy to follow.
In general, coherency is the strongest aspect of this band. While I can poke at individual elements like the singing or the riffs, each track is tightly written with clear direction and hooks aplenty. Most prog metal bands tend to lose the plot at least a couple of times an album, but that doesn’t happen at all here. It reminds me strongly of how Fates Warning writes songs, but then with less technical ability. I also want to credit guitarist Victor Moraes for his tasteful guitar solos and leads. Those are always a highlight of the song. And I slandered his riff-game, but “The Core of Creation” is an absolute winner in all regards. Every band member brings their A-game there. The few songs after it are also quite strong, making the album finish on a high note.
All in all, this is a decently promising debut. If I could give the band any advice, it would be to just keep practicing. I think with some additional technical ability this band could turn into a real winner. For now though, it’s a fun project, if slightly unremarkable in the grand scheme of things. Do give this a listen if you enjoy classic heavy metal. It’s a good record to spin a couple of times.
Recommended tracks: Stains in the Shadows, The Core of Creation, Painter of the Universe
Recommended for fans of: Iron Maiden, Elegy, Fates Warning
Final verdict: 6/10
Related links: Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page
Label: Independent
Anderuvius is:
– Adrian Blakk (vocals)
– Victor Moraes (guitars)
– Fábio Vilela (bass, backing vocals)
– Daniel Chan (drums)
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