Aletheya – ‘Chance To Reborn’

(Rockshots Records)

There are some albums that ease you into their world gently, giving you time to settle into the atmosphere before revealing their true intentions. Then there are albums like Aletheya’s Chance To Reborn, which appear to have absolutely no interest in patience whatsoever. From the moment this power metal assault kicks into gear, the message is clear: strap yourself in, turn the volume up, and prepare for impact.

Fast, thunderous and packed with the kind of energy that power metal does so well, Chance To Reborn is an album built around momentum. Aletheya throw themselves wholeheartedly into the genre, combining driving guitars, pounding drums, soaring melodies and a healthy dose of bombast to create a record that feels constantly in motion. There is very little here that could be described as restrained, and that is precisely what makes it such an enjoyable listen.

Power metal has always thrived on larger-than-life musical ideas. It is a genre where riffs can feel like charging cavalry, drums can sound like artillery fire and choruses can seemingly be designed to shake the walls. Aletheya understand that spirit and embrace it enthusiastically. Chance To Reborn doesn't simply play power metal; it revels in the possibilities of the style.

Francesco Menale’s guitar work is one of the album’s major strengths. There is a pleasing combination of speed and melody throughout, with the riffs providing plenty of muscle while the melodic elements prevent the music from becoming an exercise in brute force. The guitars are frequently allowed to race, but there is always a strong sense of purpose behind the playing. Technical ability is present, but it never feels like technicality for technicality's sake.

And then there are those drums. My goodness, those drums. When this album gets moving, the rhythm section sounds like it has been given a very simple instruction: do not let up. The percussion provides a relentless foundation, driving the music forward with an urgency that suits the material perfectly. There is a real physicality to the sound, the sort of production that makes you want to crank up the volume and experience the album rather than simply listen to it.

Melody, however, remains central to the experience. Beneath all that speed and thunder is a band that clearly understands the importance of memorable musical themes. The arrangements are packed with melodic touches, allowing the album to breathe between its heavier moments while maintaining its overall sense of power. That balance is essential. Without melody, power metal can become exhausting; without power, it can lose its identity. Aletheya manage to keep both sides working together.

The atmosphere is equally important. There is a darker, more dramatic edge running through Chance To Reborn, giving the album emotional weight beneath its muscular exterior. The themes of struggle, sorrow, conflict and overcoming adversity complement the music naturally, creating a sense that there is something more substantial happening beneath the thunderous riffs.

What I particularly enjoy is the album's sense of conviction. Aletheya don't sound like a band tentatively testing the waters. They sound committed to the music they are creating. There is confidence in the performances and an obvious enthusiasm for the grander side of heavy metal. The result is an album that feels genuine rather than calculated.

The production also serves the material well. Everything has enough space to make an impact, while the overall sound retains the aggression required for this kind of metal. The guitars have bite, the drums have weight and the melodic elements aren't buried beneath the heavier instrumentation. It is a sound that rewards volume, and I suspect Chance To Reborn will become increasingly impressive the louder you play it.

There is also a welcome sense of variety within the album's framework. Although the record is firmly rooted in power metal, Aletheya don't simply repeat the same formula from beginning to end. Different moods and tempos help maintain interest, while the recurring emphasis on melody gives the album a cohesive identity.

At its heart, Chance To Reborn is about energy. It is the sort of record that grabs you by the collar and drags you into its world. It doesn't apologise for being dramatic, it doesn't shy away from speed and it certainly doesn't believe that heavy metal should be played quietly. For listeners who enjoy their power metal fast, melodic and thunderous, there is plenty here to get excited about.

Aletheya have created an album that understands the fundamental appeal of the genre: big riffs, bigger melodies and enough firepower to make your speakers beg for mercy. There is an infectious enthusiasm running through Chance To Reborn, and that enthusiasm carries the record even when the musical landscape becomes particularly intense.

Ultimately, this is an album that wears its power metal heart proudly on its sleeve. It is energetic without losing its melodic focus, heavy without becoming unnecessarily oppressive, and dramatic without drifting into excess for its own sake. Most importantly, it sounds like a band having fun with the sheer scale and excitement of heavy music.

Chance To Reborn is fast. It is thunderous. It is melodic. And when Aletheya hit the accelerator, they hit it hard. If your idea of a great power metal album involves soaring melodies, charging riffs, pounding drums and enough energy to power a small city, then Aletheya have given you nine very good reasons to turn the volume knob clockwise.

‘Eyes Of The Stone’, the album gets straight down to business with a powerful opener that immediately establishes Aletheya’s appetite for speed and intensity. Driving guitars, pounding drums and a strong melodic foundation give this one plenty of forward momentum. It is an energetic introduction that wastes absolutely no time showing what this band is about.

‘Shame’, a darker edge creeps into the proceedings here, with the music balancing aggression and melody particularly well. The riffs have plenty of bite, while the arrangement gives the song a dramatic quality that suits its subject matter. There is a real sense of urgency running through it, making this another convincing slice of power metal.

‘The Rule’, this is where the album’s thunderous character really comes into focus. The guitars are forceful and the rhythm section keeps everything charging ahead. Melodic touches add plenty of colour, ensuring that the sheer heaviness never overwhelms the song. It has that classic power-metal feeling of constantly pushing towards the next big musical moment.

‘Echoes Of Oblivion’, more atmospheric in places, this track adds another dimension to the album. There is darkness beneath the melody, creating an intriguing contrast between the heavier passages and more expansive moments. The result is dramatic without sacrificing the speed and energy that define the record.

‘Invisible Heroes’, a particularly stirring number, carrying a sense of honour and determination within its powerful arrangement. The guitars are muscular, the drums hit hard and the melodies have an uplifting quality that provides a welcome contrast to some of the album’s darker material. A real fist-in-the-air moment.

‘Chasing The Sun’, the title says it all: there is a brighter, more optimistic energy here. Aletheya retain their trademark power but introduce a more uplifting melodic character. The song moves with considerable pace, yet there is an emotional warmth underneath the thunder, making it one of the album's more accessible moments.

‘Chance To Reborn’, the title track arrives with exactly the sort of scale you would expect. Big, dramatic and melodic, it brings together many of the elements that make the album work. The guitars have plenty of muscle, the rhythms are relentless and the overall arrangement has a suitably epic quality. This feels like a central statement of the album’s identity.

‘Stealer’, time to put the foot firmly back on the accelerator. This is a punchy, energetic track with plenty of guitar-driven aggression and a rhythm section that refuses to sit still. The melodic hooks keep everything memorable, while the performance has enough attitude to make it stand out.

‘Waves Of Sorrow’, the album closes on a more emotional note, allowing the intensity to take on a darker and more reflective character. There is still plenty of power here, but the emphasis on atmosphere and feeling gives the record a satisfying conclusion. A fitting finale to an album that has spent much of its running time charging forward at full speed.

Aletheya have clearly understood the assignment with Chance To Reborn. This is power metal played with conviction, combining speed, thunderous musicianship and enough melody to keep the whole thing firmly hooked into the memory. There is a real sense of momentum throughout the album, but it isn’t all about racing from one riff to the next. The darker passages and emotional touches give the record some welcome depth, while the heavier moments deliver the kind of impact that demands serious volume. Chance To Reborn feels passionate, energetic and refreshingly committed to the power metal cause. If you like your metal fast, melodic and packed with firepower, Aletheya have delivered an album that deserves your attention and your speakers are going to know about it.

7/10

Essential Track – ‘The Rule’

Review by Woody