Esperfall – Origins In Darkness

Esperfall
Origins In Darkness
H-Music Hungary
April 01^st, 2022
Playing time: 45:32

In 2018, the Hungarian Melodic Metal band Esperfall released their debut EP “A Leap Of Faith”. One year later, “The Leaf Agency” followed. I was able to find 2016 as the founding year at Encyclopaedia Metallum. It took another three years until the first album “Origins In Darkness” was finished. The press release describes the band’s sound as follows:

ESPERFALL’s music is infused with the melodic and versatile, yet dark and tight elements of the Northern Metal genre.

So, in principle, nothing new. What is decisive is probably how the musicians have realised this.

At first, only a small part of the announcement in the press text can be heard. The one-and-a-half-minute intro “A Gift From The Gods” sounds like any other Melodic Metal albums, – bland and superfluous. Also, the opening song “Tempest In Paradise (The First Advent)” delivers only a few moments of suspense, although beautiful melodies and a singer who calls a beautiful soprano voice her own. Plus, the obligatory double bass. Yes, of course there is a guitar solo for the ears. But that changes radically with “Retreat Into Dreamland”. The guitars fry. Singer Nóra Sima and bassist Péter Wachal growl in competition. You can hardly decide which voice sounds more angry. A video clip was also produced for the song, in which you can see the protagonists in action. And this interplay “Beauty and the Beasts” continues later on. But the Hungarians remain melodic for the most part, as you can hear in “Plato’s Cave”, “Don’t Leave Me Behind” or “Black Flag”.  “Nature Of The Disease (The Second Advent)” is a bit harsher. Here Esperfall move more into Death Metal realms. A mixture of Death and Melodic can be heard on “No Tomorrow (The Third Advent)”.

After a somewhat weaker start, “Origins In Darkness” develops into a very solid debut album. Varied song writing and very good musicians contribute to the success. The vocal range of Nóra Sima is impressive. Esperfall have a real jewel in their ranks. The tradition of good to very good Rock and Metal bands from Hungary has been successfully continued.

Esperfall – Retreat Into Dreamland (Official Music Video): https://youtu.be/H_3nnWW6rHU

Lineup:

Nóra Sima – Vocals
Péter Wachal – Bass Guitar & Vocals
Zsombor Zathureczky – Keyboards
László Gábeli – Lead Guitar
Szabolcs Kerek – Rhythm Guitar
Attila Pécz – Drums

Track list:

• A Gift From The Gods
• Tempest In Paradise (The First Advent)
• Retreat Into Dreamland
• Plato’s Cave
• Nature Of The Disease (The Second Advent)
• Don’t Leave Me Behind
• No Tomorrow (The Third Advent)
• Futures & Options
• Black Flag
• Cortex Breakdown