Lost in Time: Hephystus – Burn the Page

Style: traditional progressive metal (clean vocals)
Review by: Sam
Country: US-NC
Release date: 29 June, 2009

The year is 2009. Though djent and progressive metalcore are on the rise, you are still not done with indulging in Dream Theater sound-alikes and power metal. The smell of loudness war and tough guy groove metal riffs still hangs strong in the air, and your disappointment with Symphony X going even further in that direction with Paradise Lost is yet to wear off. And when the fuck is Fates Warning coming back? Redemption is great and all, but it ain’t no A Pleasant Shade of Gray or Parallels. Enter Hephystus.

Burn the Page was originally released in 2009 as a self-titled album, but for unknown reasons they rereleased it under a different name two years later. My best bet is that they got signed to a label, but who knows. I couldn’t find anything else noteworthy on the band’s history, so you’ll have to do with the music. If you have been reading prog metal reviews for some time (not necessarily on this site), you’ve definitely seen a sentence along the lines of “(…) And in a genre which usually prefers showmanship over songwriting, this band stands out because of the REAL EMOTION in their music” (shudders). As much as I cringe over such a sentence, there is some merit to it here.

This band fits right in with the classic prog metal sound. Riffs more or less in the heavy/power metal sphere, soaring melodic vocals, rhythmical complexity, sexy lead work, it’s all here. But while this band has all the complexity of a prog metal band, their songwriting is much more akin to a heavy metal band with a strong focus on melodic hooks and tight songs. And it’s exactly the quality of those songs which make this album. Not exactly a wild quality to have, but Burn the Page is largely just a collection of excellent tunes. You can take pretty much any song of this album and it’d be a standout on your average prog metal playlist. There is some thought to album flow, but there is no overlapping narrative as is so common in the genre, which makes it quite refreshing in a sense. They’re very much like Fates Warning in that regard (Parallels era especially), which is not something I say often in earnest. “Strength”, and “Permission to Die” in particular is are standout tracks. The former for its lovely guitar and keyboard interplay and a thrilling bridge, and the latter for its thrilling verses and general epic factor. Not to mention the guitar solo at the end is amazing. But all songs are great. Generally, speaking Hephystys succeeds immensely when it comes to building tension and keeping things unpredictable. Though they have an inherently limited scope, they make the most of it.

This band also has an excellent sense of melody. I love their vocalist. He sits in a slightly deeper mid-range. His delivery is very passionate and melodic, with just a touch of melancholy. He’s clearly a heavy metal singer, but without the rough edges or wild eccentricities you usually hear like yelling and insane falsettos. There’s a certain dryness in his voice that juxtaposed with his heartfelt singing gives him a unique charm. Their guitarist also has an excellent sense of melody. His lead playing is very tasteful, showcasing a great variety of technique and a great understanding of when to use them. Be it the swelling melodies underlining the chorus of “Legacy Pt. II”, the hard riffs, or some old school shredding. He does it all well. And in his solos he maintains an excellent balance of shorter and longer notes, never failing to move me. There’s some excellent interplay with the keyboards as well, though they mostly remain in the background to provide atmosphere. I like their touch though. They underpin the darker emotions that this record communicates well. And when they do come to the forefront, they bring solid melody lines that add to the groove. And speaking of groove, I’ve gotta mention that the drumming is also excellent. And while we’re at it, the mixing sounds great too as far as my plebian audiophile ears are concerned.

I’m not sure where to go from here. I think I’ve said all there is to say. There was no real reason for me to highlight this album… other than it just being a damn good record. This is very much a classic progressive metal album from start to finish. Their sound isn’t particularly unique, nor is there an interesting historic tale I could tell you alongside it. Heck, there were definitely other records that had more priority to be featured in this column. It’s just that this album resonated a ton with me, so I wanted to share. This is melodic prog metal done right. It probably won’t change your mind on the style if you weren’t a fan already, but if you are (and especially if you like Fates Warning), then definitely give this a listen. It’s fantastic.

Recommended tracks: Strength, Permission to Die, Origami
Recommended for fans of: Fates Warning, Dream Theater, Vanden Plas, Threshold
You may also like: Need, Kingcrow, Terra Odium, Full Nothing

Related links: Spotify | Official Website (@archive.org) | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Metal-Archives page

Label: Spectra Records – Facebook | Website

Hephystus is:
– Brandon Miller (vocals, guitars)
– Matt Halberg (guitars)
– Jonathan Loftis (bass)
– Troy Surratt (drums)
– Andrew Pollard (keyboard)