As I surfed the AMG promo wave, Finland’s Death’s-Head and the Space Allusion (DHATSA) caught my eye. It was the attached “Modern Melodic Metal” tag that made me curious. It’s the kind of descriptor that lacks substance since the terms “modern” and “melodic” are often thrown around to the point of meaninglessness. I found myself almost instantly assuming the music would be trite and overproduced. I’d wager that some of you reading this did as well. But in truth, that’s hardly fair to DHATSA. I felt compelled to give this cut of modern melodic metal a whirl, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t in just the right headspace for some straightforward, safe metal. Thus did I sink my teeth into DHATSA’s sophomore LP, the enigmatically titled LUC-II-FARUL.
LUC-II-FARUL is presented in a way that focuses heavily on accessibility. The verse-chorus-solo formula is an unchallenging approach that works well here, made even more inviting by the sleek production. Opener “Graceless Under Pressure” showcases Valtteri Virolainen’s killer pipes that straddle a line between Michael Kiske and Treat’s Robert Ernlund, with support from the guitars playing melody-driven prog/power-lite riffs. The keyboards and bass are often a huge driving force, playing off of each other in a fashion that’s a little bit Voyager and a little bit Unisonic in catchy rockers like “The Year of the Sacred” and “Beyond the Sun.” LUC-II-FARUL is the kind of pleasant metal you might play when you’re in the mood for something sociable, or play for non-metal skeptics who are looking to start out. That shouldn’t deter more devoted metalheads, however; everything is performed with both precision and abandon, which takes admirable songwriting chops. LUC-II-FARUL is indeed safe, but it’s not lazy.
The band describes LUC-II-FARUL as a “Lightbringer,” a sentiment I agree with wholeheartedly. The soaring melodies and choruses instill the music with a palpable brightness. Keyboards gambol around chugging guitars in “The Year of the Sacred,” and the life-changing chorus might even earn the song a place on an end-of-year list or two. The romantic “Of Malison and Magic” nods at Treat with the vocal lines while the keyboards float into uplifting Voyager territory. Peering deeper into the music will reveal subtle tricks that are tailor-made to leave a fat grin on your face. The explosive, staggered resolution of the guitar solo in “The Son of Shahar” and the split-second silence before the chorus in “The Year of the Sacred” give way to rushes of exhilaration, and a little keyboard twirl in “Graceless Under Pressure” inspires excitement for the chorus to come. LUC-II-FARUL is full of energy that’ll easily brighten your mood, but not through saccharine messaging or feel-good cheesiness; rather, it’s through DHATSA’s keen ear for writing catchy music that crests the stratosphere.
For the most part, LUC-II-FARUL flows with great consistency. The bulk of the runtime is free of pace killers or low points, and it’s easy to casually throw the album on and suddenly notice that 30 minutes have flown by. “Background music” is a term that’s often used in a demeaning way, but it’s no small feat to write music that works so well for both passive and active listening. The breakneck pace is helpful in that regard. The first three tracks make for a great opening salvo, and while what follows never reaches the same heights, the momentum is kept at full speed by LUC-II-FARUL’s bottomless fount of buoyant energy. That momentum does falter right at the finish line, however. LUC-II-FARUL soars when the full band ensemble works together, and the repetitive guitar progression that closes out “To The Final Bell Toll” lacks the gravitas of Virolainen’s vocals. While it’s easy to see what DHATSA were going for with this nine-minute closing epic, it ends up feeling uncharacteristically tedious and is an unfortunate epilogue to an album that deserved a better send-off.
At a compact runtime of 38 minutes, LUC-II-FARUL is an engaging listen despite the awkward ending. This is the kind of music to put on when you just gotta scratch that itch for something easy that’ll shine light on your day, with some real winners that deserve a spot on your regular listening rotation. I’m glad that I didn’t pass on modern melodic metal, and to any rubberneckers still unsure, LUC-II-FARUL just might scratch that itch for you as well.
Rating: Good!
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps
Label: Inverse Records
Websites: dhatsa.bandcamp.com/music | facebook.com/dhatsaband
Releases Worldwide: November 17th, 2023
