STAR.GATE – “The Moment of a Lifetime” (2025)
The closing of the year coincided with the latest, seventh LP of the Greek melodic power metallers (with some prog touches) STAR.GATE. First of all I did not expect a new entry so fast, since “Escaping the Illusion” was released just a year before, so it was a pleasant surprise for sure. The unpleasant news was that Manos Fatsis whom I liked a lot on the 2024 album, would not be the vocalist this time. I believe he added a lot of sentimental value to the songs. In the end it matters little, Dimitris Tiktopoulos who also held that position in the group’s first two albums, did an outstanding job and by having more power in his voice, he may be a more suitable choice for a metal record.
“The Moment of a Lifetime” attracts the first glances right from the start thanks to a very detailed cover artwork, inviting you to your first listen. It comes packed with eight tracks that follow a similar philosophy on how they are built. On paper, they share a very simple structure that goes from verse to chorus, repeat, solo, chorus again and curtain falls. The reality however is far from that, as there is nothing simple about those songs. It is made clear that there is a huge focus on building memorable melodies, that come either from the vocals, guitars or keyboards, at any given time. Think along the lines of ROYAL HUNT and you will get exactly my meaning. But if you focus more, you will discover a gold mine of details.
For instance, each time you read the title of a song, its chorus will come to mind, they are the fireworks that make each composition shine. Specifically, the vocal melodies. At the same time, the guitars may stay restless alongside by playing a lead, or the keyboards may go crazy by performing a technical dance. By paying closer attention, you will notice the same happening at every step, be it a verse or a pre-chorus. What seemingly was a catchy song turned out to be a canvas where the entire band drew upon, making you realise things that you hadn’t noticed before. To the point where in the solo of “Pain” and while the guitars shredded, I discovered a carefree bass line by Kostas Domenikiotis (also the main composer of the album) who grooved like there is no tomorrow. There is not always one protagonist, so if you want to absorb everything, you will need to choose the instrument to focus on at each pass, which greatly increases replayability.
Does this mean we are dealing with a very demanding album? Not necessarily, as above all, the melodic part is what prevails and the first two seconds of “Invincible” will prove my point. I did not expect each moment to be so colorful but somehow the band did it. The songs are very addictive as the album maintains its high level at every composition, when a song ends, the next will punch you in the face right away. Eight “hit songs” without them being called “hit” with the cheap definition of the term. My favorite ones ended up to be “Avalon” due to its slightly epic touch and “Dance in the Crimson Sky” in which I found the most explosive transition from verse to chorus.
Ultimately, “The Moment of a Lifetime” is exactly what you want it to be at any given time based on your mood. Do you want something light as background noise to fill the room with its beautiful melodies while you do something else or just want to relax? You got it. Do you want something deep to sink your attention into, that will have you discovering new details each time? It fulfills that role too. The release date was really unfortunate as it missed its consideration for a spot in my top 10 and I suspect this happened to others as well, but it is never too late to discover a killer album, is it? Don’t know if the band will keep that pace and plan their next musical adventure not so deep in the future, but they have locked my trust and attention for when that happens. It is an easy recommendation for all fans of Melodic Power Metal and more so for people that enjoy the music of ROYAL HUNT.
90/100
Pavlos Pavlakis
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