Chaos Magic - Emerge (2022)

Led by the talented Caterina Nix, Chaos Magic is a Symphonic Metal band with similar style to outfits like Visions of Atlantis, Epica, Nightwish, etc. With so many similar bands in the genre, “Emerge” distinguishes itself as a release with Power and Progressive Metal elements, keeping things lean and direct. Featuring 50 minutes of music, this release is quite dynamic and keeps the listener engaged due to excellent songwriting and dramatic arrangements.

The release sets a mystical mood with the title track, delivering soaring vocal melodies and crafty electronic elements, all of these wrapped around hefty riffs and tight drumming. We particularly enjoyed that the release slowly builds up, and does not ‘explode’ in the listener’s face too quickly, as tracks like: “Beneath your Sin” and “Impossible”. This allows the listener to nicely warm up the band’s style and Caterina’s excellent vocals.

As the first stand-out piece, “Garden of Winter” is a killer song which features Elina Siirala of Leaves’ Eyes. This creates a very engaging and powerful duet between her and Caterina, as their voices are nicely complementary. Creating different moods and aural experiences, “Hearts Gone Dark”, “Beyond Silence”, and the power ballad “In the Depth of Night” showcase the band’s ability to keep things interesting and fresh without getting repetitive or dull.

Closing with the high-octane pair “When If Not Today” and “What is You Fuel”, we found ourselves wanting more. The band’s sound is well polished and they manage to create memorable tracks that sets them apart from a crowded genre. Out via Frontiers Records, this is definitely a solid addition to any Symphonic Metal fans looking to discover new bands.

Label: Frontiers Records

Release: June 17th, 2022

Genre: Symphonic Metal

Country: Chile