The French Tunisian metal band Myrath is ending March with the release of their new album “Wilderness of Mirrors”. Two years after their last album “Karma”, the band shows once more they are here to carry their legacy by being one of the only metal bands with strong Oriental influences.
Three of the four singles released –The Funeral, Until the End (feat Elize Ryd from Amaranthe) and Breathing Near the Roar– are the first three songs of this new album. “The Funeral” is the perfect start to show Myrath’s innovation. It’s a song with parts of the lyrics in Swahili that approaches the funeral as a celebration despite the sadness. The rhythm contrasts with the lyrics and is a good glimpse of a foreign culture. It was maybe bold of Myrath to start with this song, but a perfect bet. You want to listen to more of the album after hearing this song.
The song with Elize Ryd is truly interesting as Elize’s powerful voice gets well with Zaher’s. “Until the End” is about truth and here is mine: this new album is a solid one.My favorite from the singles is without a doubt “Breathing Near the Roar”. The lyrics about survival make it one of the most intense songs of the album in my opinion. The song is powerful and emotional at the same time, in the line of “The Funeral”. Sadness and emotions are carried by a complex melody full of energy that gives us strength to carry on.
Myrath shows once again their multiple influences in this album. There are lyrics in French, Arabic or Swahili, they use different instruments such as saz or qraqeb… Their style is unique and recognizable. This new album is in the line of what Myrath is famous for. You will also find classic metal elements: a cool guitar solo in “Still the Dawn Will Come” for example, or a great riff shot in “Edge of the Night” with powerful drums. They even give us a beautiful piano ballad, “Soul of My Soul”. Zaher’s voice is truly versatile and can be as soft as it can be strong, always full of emotions no matter what. His voice carries deep lyrics through the album about truth, illusions and emotional battles without making it depressing.The album ends with “Through the Seasons”, an epic and powerful song with roaring guitars blending with oriental instruments. Myrath has mastered their recipe, and they prove it once more in “Wilderness of Mirrors”.
This album will probably make most Myrath fans happy (me included), and the band brought some novelty in it, but I wouldn’t say it is revolutionary. It is solid nevertheless and I recommend giving it a listen. I give it a good 85%!
Written by Céline Fetel
Edit by Kerry Lynx