Piano Black – …Of Bygone Days

Piano Black
…Of Bygone Days
Out: December 23^rd, 2020
Playing time: 20:04

Unfortunately, it’s common these days to receive review requests with incomplete information about the band. This is not much different with the enquiry about “…Of Bygone Days” by Piano Black. Encyclopaedia Metallum doesn’t provide any information about the band’s founding date either. At least you can find out that the EP was released on 23 December 2020. And that the band from Dublin (Ireland) is currently working on an album. The line-up is similar. The picture shows four musicians, while Encyclopaedia Metallum only lists two names. However, I received some missing information from singer Ana Marija Dundović. Piano Black were founded in 2020 and the EP was recorded with three guest musicians. Thematically, the band was inspired by J.R.R Tolkien.

“I Sit Beside The Fire And Think” begins quietly with polyphonic a capella vocals. But fortunately, Piano Black don’t spend too long with the prelude. The rhythm section soon kicks in powerfully. Ana Marija Dundović sings in a clear soprano voice. The synth keys are a little annoying, although they don’t really push themselves to the fore. But this is made up for by good guitar solos. In “Northern Sons”, the Irish really kick it up a notch. The drums set a high tempo. Ana trills in the highest notes. But even that is heard very cleanly. “Beneath Another Sky” continues powerfully, with a discreetly integrated orchestration. And a series of double bass attacks. Ana shows that she also feels at home on mezzo-soprano. She could definitely do that more often. “Dance The Elements” is the final track. And starts with synth staccato. The melody is then taken over by the guitar, which sounds much better. Fortunately, the synths take a back seat later on. Instead, there is a melodic chorus.

With “…Of Bygone Days”, Piano Black show of forces in Symphonic Power Metal. Whereby Power Metal is in the foreground, symphonics and orchestration are mostly used in a song-orientated way. Only the high synth sounds bother me a little. You can look forward to the announced album.

Piano Black – Northern Sons: https://youtu.be/SDwl7gDabxk?si=TDGcV9hT8yDnL0W7

Lineup:

Mario Stojčić – Lead-/Rhythm-Guitars
Ana Marija Dundović – Vocals

Guests:

David Mooney – Guitars, Bass
Josip Hrgović – Drums
Marco Iannello – Keyboards

Track list:

• I Sit Beside The Fire And Think
• Northern Sons
• Beneath Another Sky
• Elements