Living Tales – Hades
Release Date: 3rd April 2025
Label: Independent
Bandcamp
Genre: Progressive Symphonic Metal, Traditional Heavy Metal.
FFO: Epica, Dream Theatre, Nightwish, Iron Maiden, Periphery, Jinjer, SepticFlesh.
Review By: Mark Waight
“Hades” is the fourth album from Portuguese Progressive & Symphonic metal band Living Tales and follows on almost seamlessly from their previous release, 2022’s “Persephone.” Using characters from Greek mythology, “Hades” is much more powerful and darker than its predecessor, although both albums are still narratively entwined in much the same way as the multiverse worlds of Marvel and DC Comics are.
Formed back in 2007 Living Tales have had several changes in personnel over the years before settling on their current line-up in 2019. Living Tales is Ana Isola (vocals), Luis Oliveira (guitars), Joao Carneiro (bass) and Ricardo Carvalho (drums).
Setting the scene nicely, the orchestral and instrumental opening track “Overture: Ischyros Genos” heightens the anticipation before the main event. Next up, epic symphonic metal track “Rising” is a big, bold and very impressive song. It makes a huge statement of intent by instantly catapulting Living Tales into the same league as many of the big boys of the genre.
“The Crusade” in search of great new music and bands is something I am always keen to embark upon, and Living Tales deliver that top drawer quality in spades. The orchestrations and vocals are fabulous, with the musical depth seemingly truly bottomless. The underworld of “Hades” is a dark and disturbing place indeed with this bleak and gothic title track capturing it perfectly. The nightmarishly heavy riff and changes of pitch and tempo add to the confusion beautifully.
Harder rocking tune “River Styx” has a much more traditional heavy metal feel to it which certainly hits a cord with me. It’s a cracking tune that will grab you by the scruff and shake you up, wicked! With all the excitement leaving us in need of a breather it comes along just at the right time with the short “Interlude: Aidos.”
Twisting and turning its way into your psyche “Labyrinth” moves between darkness and light in a pulsating journey that ultimately draws you in and drags you down to the depth of despair. Titled after their previous album the track “Persephone” brings that more modern sound to the fore with a superb blend of traditional heavy metal, symphonic metal and progressive metal beefing this banger to bursting point.
If you’re looking for “Redemption” then you may or may not find it here as the penultimate song sets, you up for judgement day. Just who is your judge Hades, Poseidon or Zeus? That’s for another day, maybe! Curtain closer “Prologue: Kainos” brings events neatly to a close and leaves the door open for a possible trilogy?
“Hades” is an excellent album with an intoxicating cocktail of different genres mixed in near perfect proportions by Living Tales to create a composition capable of widespread appeal from all corners of the metal fraternity. Fans of Progressive and Symphonic Metal are going to totally dig “Hades” from start to finish with fans of more traditional heavy metal also finding something to sink their teeth into too if they give it a chance. Recommended!
(4 / 5)
