FELLOWSHIP – “The skies above eternity” (2024)

FELLOWSHIP are a relatively new band that were formed in 2019 with 2 EPs and soon 2 LPs under their belt, with the second album being the topic of this review. They have a UK nationality with their music falling straight into the melodic/symphonic Power Metal category. Despite what their name suggests, their lyrics are not based on Lord of the Rings, but still mostly belong to the fantasy genre. 

To my ears the music of the band is defined by three pillars. The first is its musical connection to stuff like the “Legendary tales” of RHAPSODY,  or TWILIGHT FORCE. So a positive and upbeat yet epic mood with emphasis on orchestrations and guitars focusing more on the leads, with the rhythmic parts not being mixed in a very heavy way. The intro of “Bitter winds” for example is classic RHAPSODY.

The second is that the style of the band borrows much from the classic Disney period. A very theatrical approach in vocals with inspirational lyrics that are not about all happy situations, but rather how to find the light in the darkness. The chorus of ‘Dawnbreaker’ is a prime example that sparked a comparison like that and after this moment the correlation became even stronger in my mind. Finally, you can find strong Japanese Power Metal inspirations that will remind you of GALNERYUS. 

I must say that the mix of the above is done in a great and successful way giving birth to a high quality album. FELLOWSHIP manage to sound different from their peers and despite the similarities, they do not march on roads that feel much traveled. On top of that the skills of the musicians are showcased at every corner. If I had to pick my favorite parts of the record that would be the orchestral arrangements, the lead guitar performance and the vocal melodies.

Considering the group is very early in their discography, I do not believe they have found their peak yet and that we will have even bigger things from them in the future. So all in all their new album does its job. It is a good release that deserves to be discussed and suggested among the fans of the genre. It makes FELLOWSHIP a name that you want to pay attention to going forward. More importantly, if they want their name to grow, the new music points them in the right direction. 

78/100

Pavlos Pavlakis

100: Godsent

90s: Excellent

80s: Very good

70s: Good

60s: Can be enjoyable

50s: Uninspired

40s: Bad

0s -30s: Unlistenable