ALBUM REVIEW: In the Vanishing Echoes of Goodbye

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Ever since their 2017 comeback and signing to Frontier Records, Italian progressive power metal titans Labyrinth have been going from strength to strength with some of the finest material in the history of the band. 

Forming in the early 1990’s, Labyrinth are seen as one of the leaders of the Italian power metal movement with a lengthy discography and many acclaimed albums. With their tenth album In The Vanishing Echoes Of Goodbye, Labyrinth seem to have taken things up a notch. Taking influence from the current state of affairs in the world circus, In The Vanishing Echoes Of Goodbye sees the band sounding angrier and heavier than ever before whilst still retaining the vibrant and catchy hooks and melodies that are the band’s trademark. 

From the start, the increased levels of aggression can be heard in the riffs and the storming pace and rhythm of songs such as opener Welcome Twilight, the storming Accept The Changes and Heading For Nowhere. The more tender and melancholic side of the band can be heard in Out Of Place, The Healing and To The Son I Never Had, which pack plenty of emotion in their running time as well as plenty of heaviness. 

The band have stated that “we feel increasingly free from formulas and stylistic boundaries that sometimes trap a band within a specific musical genre. With this album, we set out to achieve total freedom, allowing each of us to fully express ourselves”, and that freedom translates to passion and enthusiasm with the band sounding completely charged and invigorated with fine performances all round. From the fantastic guitar work of Andrea Cantarelli and Olaf Thorsen, the impressive keyboard playing of Oleg Smirnoff, the relentless rhythm section of bassist Nik Mazzucconi and drummer Matt Peruzzi, and of course, the stunning powerhouse vocals of frontman Roberto Tiranti. 


In The Vanishing Echoes Of Goodbye continues a run of impressive albums from Labyrinth and sees the band pushing their sound harder and further with pleasing results. These songs really pack a punch and fans of power metal and melodic metal will find plenty to enjoy here. For a genre that is seen as on the softer end of the metal spectrum, Labyrinth have released an album that shows that power metal can kick it up a gear when required.

Review by Richard Oliver
In The Vanishing Echoes of Goodbye is released on 24th January via Frontiers Records. 

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