Star.gate - Escaping the Illusion (2024)

I thought that including Star.Gate in our Completionist’s Corner article would suffice, but the more I heard of their new studio work, the more I valued its virtues to the point it screamed for a full review. For the intros, we are talking about a Greek band with a discography consisting of six Full-Lengths and something above twenty years on their backs. I would describe their art as very melodic Power Metal with strong Progressive touches.

The band has a stable core with bassist and main songwriter Kostas Domenikiotis, as well as guitarist Anthimos Manti and keyboardist Sakis Bandis, being members since the debut. Returning for a second time we have drummer Stergios Kourou, a veteran who is present in some of the Greek scene’s most noteworthy Prog/Power representatives (Wardrum, Horizon’s End). Latest addition is the vocalist Manos Fatsis and perhaps the reason I enjoyed the album to that extent.

Don’t know where your mind goes when you see the word progressive, but here it is limited in what guitars and keys play, such as the beginning of The Deepest Sea. Don’t be afraid of long instrumental segments, on the contrary the solos are very good and have a proper duration. Now that we refer to those two instruments, let’s just say that they are in a perfect relationship, as by stepping upon a well structured rhythm section they paint each moment in a creative way. Riffs like the one in the Outcast is not a daily occurrence and the same goes for the keyboards in the verses of Life is an Illusion, just to mention some examples. The best things happen when they combine in full force, Lonely Queen ended up as my favorite the moment I was exposed to its main theme.

I said that what ultimately won me over was the performance of Manos Fatsis and that is partially true. In reality it is a combination of factors, with one of them being the vocal lines (I believe credits also go to Domenikiotis and Helen Roumpi), but yes, ultimately the full of sentiment singing of Manos was the spark that allowed magic to happen. Despite the music being very good, I see the vocal part of the songs as the true protagonist as in the end, that is what will break it or make it for you. There is not a single track where this aspect is not memorable and it is not only limited in the choruses, but verses as well. Points also go to the lyrics that seem very personal, well written and thought provoking.

Escaping the Illusion ends up as a very beautiful record that will connect well with people that love a strong emphasis on melodies. Whom will it not connect with, is fans that search for another opportunity to unpack their patched leather jackets or to hone their steel. It is an album that you would proudly spin in front of your non-metalhead friends, who would be deaf to deny the charms of it. The sure thing is that it needs an opportunity to prove its worth, because if you end up liking it, you will straight up love it.