Review: Sunburst – Manifesto

Style: progressive metal, power metal, symphonic metal (clean vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Dream Theater, Symphony X, Darkwater, Kamelot
Country: Greece
Release date: 14 June, 2024

It can feel a bit silly when you check the “members” tab on the Metal-Archives page for a little known band and see each performer with a list of five or more equally-unknown current and former projects. Where do people find time to be involved in so many groups? But I’m all in favor of such widespread cross-pollination of band members in the underground metal scene; it adds a sense of community and shared effort. From a listener’s perspective, it offers consistency and familiarity, and the ability to trace members from one group to another in order to discover new bands that may have similar styles to the ones you already love. Imagine my delight, then, upon seeing listed for Sunburst both singer Vasilis Georgiou and guitarist Gus Drax of Black Fate, a fellow Greek underground darling whose 2020 Ithaca passed by without much fanfare despite its monumental closing track “Circle of Despair” (I guess we all had other things on our minds at the time). Having that extra point of reference for the involved talent brought a little extra excitement as I started exploring Manifesto.

Although I know some love to quibble over how much orchestral content is required to really count as “symphonic” metal, Sunburst incorporate that symphonic shade to Manifesto’s aesthetic without making it a defining presence. The bookend tracks “The Flood,” “Hollow Lies,” and “Nocturne” feature extra orchestral arrangements with synthesized brass and strings that expand the sonic palette and add a deeper richness to the already rich musical texture. Even on the rest of the album, where the orchestral presence isn’t felt as strongly, that symphonic feeling remains a consistent background element thanks to the keyboard part, adding subtle depth and layering to the composition. Beyond that, Sunburst come across as a fairly standard, though clearly talented, modern power metal band, with Michael Romeo-esque lead guitar melodies and soaring, arpeggio-heavy solos inhabiting the latter half of every song. If anything, Manifesto reminds me of Course of Fate almost as much as it does Black Fate, even though the former band lacks the latter’s personnel overlap. The same sort of abundant, driving energy fills the music, sweeping the listener along in a tide of spectacle and emotion.

When it comes to Sunburst’s own distinct sound, those shared personnel bring along much of the same style that they featured in Black Fate, and their contribution is equally welcome here. Vasilis Georgiou’s voice in particular so strongly defines Manifesto’s mood that your opinion of the two are likely intrinsically tied to one another. A lesser known singer who truly deserves to become a household name in the community, Georgiou invests his full musical talent in every moment of his performance. His strong vibrato style may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but his energy is infectious, and the strength with which he belts out the climactic moments lifts all the rest of the music along with it. Setting aside the vocals, Gus Drax’s guitar work carries the greatest impact, taking the lead in almost all the solo or instrumental sections and driving the musical energy further forward when Georgiou’s voice falls silent. The bass and especially the keyboard parts are mixed lower than they deserve, for example during the instrumental break in the middle of “Perpetual Descent” where the keyboard is almost inaudible next to the ongoing guitars, even though the moment feels like it should be a keyboard solo or at least a shared one. Keeping the spotlight so fully on vocals and guitar robs Manifesto of a bit of extra variety that could have been enhanced by heavier touches of symphonic-ness outside of the special arrangements that open and close the album.

If I were to level one criticism at Manifesto, it’s that the album as a whole feels almost shockingly uniform. Individual tracks express their own high quality construction, but follow more or less the same mood or tone and no track has any especially standout identifying features to distinguish it from all the rest. The lyrical themes show equally little variety, covering typical metal topics like inner emotional conflict and fighting for purpose or direction in life without condensing a distinct message or journey for each song. Each of these ideas is executed in a competent and compelling way, but the lack of variation undercuts the basic successes and makes each new track feel like a continuation of what came before rather than its own new triumph. On the bright side, this means a certain level of consistency, allowing Sunburst to knock out one excellent track after another almost across the entire album. More frustratingly, though, this also means that tracks which don’t quite nail their execution, like “Samaritan” and “From the Cradle to the Grave,” feel like inferior imitations of their neighbors rather than distinct (even if imperfect) compositions of their own.

Thanks to a couple of key roster overlaps from elsewhere in the underground metal scene, Sunburst have inherited a legacy of quality songwriting and excellent musical performance. With Manifesto, they dutifully uphold that legacy, showcasing all the same strength of performance that the band members demonstrate in their other projects. In addition to their fundamentally powerful composition and enthralling presentation, Sunburst have mastered the technique of building out a section and milking it for all it’s worth before continuing on to the next. Their songs may not be especially complex or innovative in their structures, but complexity is not everything, and they make the best possible use of tried and true techniques to deliver an impactful and memorable performance.

Recommended tracks: The Flood, Perpetual Descent, Inimicus Intus, Nocturne
You may also like: Black Fate, Course of Fate, Sacred Outcry, Psycrence
Final verdict: 8/10

Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page

Label: Inner Wound – Bandcamp | Website | Facebook | YouTube

Sunburst is:
– Vasilis Georgiou (vocals)
– Gus Drax (guitars)
– Kostas Milonas (drums)
– Nick Grey (bass)
With guest:
– Bob Katsionis (keyboards)