Release Date: Out now!
Emerging with musical ambition and fire in their hearts, Passage was forged by the visionary talents of Mimis on guitars and the enigmatic Markos Darko on vocals in 2022. Determined to blaze their own trail, yet reverent of the titans who came before them, they weave a sonic tapestry drenched in influence and innovation.
Listeners will be swept into a grand, operatic maelstrom where Markos Darko’s vocals summon the spectral majesty of King Diamond and the transcendent artistry of John Arch during his legendary Fates Warning era. This towering vocal presence intertwines seamlessly with a powerhouse of musicianship and an unrelenting force that channels the haunting prog-doom landscapes reminiscent of Veni Domine.
Since 2023, Passage has been immersed in the fervent process of creation, painstakingly crafting their self-titled debut album. There is no doubt this is a labor of passion and precision. With the addition of Chris Schizo (guitars), Spyros Gold (bass), and Pepper d Koll (drums), their lineup stands as a formidable ensemble of talent and intensity.
The album is an ambitious flight of fancy across 8 songs. The track list is as follows:
- Intro – Passages
- Tempter From Heaven
- Into the Abyss
- Fates Reveal
- Her Desolate Land
- Eternal Frost
- Devoid of Reality
- Dawning War
Passage calls out with an invitation to step beyond the veil, into a realm where shadow and sound mingle in an intricate dance of power and mystery. The echoes of dark and formidable metal reverberate, summoning you to a world where temptation lurks in every corner. Darkness and evil, their allure undeniable, beckon with whispered promises of supremacy.
Yet, in the depths of this chaos, the forces of light surge forth, unwavering and unbowed. The battle rages! A war of sonic magnitude where destiny itself teeters on the precipice of ultimate destruction.
Will you stand at the crossroads, or will you dare to plunge headlong into the void? Steel yourself… the journey begins now.
Review
The instrumental Intro – Passages majestically opens the journey. Standing over the maelstrom, there is a dark note of chaos and evil that melds with the clarion call of the light. So it begins!
Tempter from Heaven erupts with speed and force. Drums and bass thunder like galloping warhorses. Then Marko Darko ascends, his operatic vocals piecing the heavens. gallant horses across the plain. Midway, an electrifying guitar solo, (embellished with a shimmering synth) sets the stage for the final reckoning. As the song nears its climax, the haunting lyric “Condemned by the choices they’ve made / awaiting forever / Judgement Day!” delivers a moment of pure, epic catharsis.
Into the Abyss surges forward with a sinister guitar riff and pounding drums, not unlike the heartbeat of a lurking demon. A haunting whisper warns, “Don’t you look in the abyss!” as the song channels classic metal energy, shrouded in prog mystique. The doom-laden solo that accompanies this track is especially divine as moves the sinister feel forward! In the end, as the veil lifts, the listener faces the chilling truth… the abyss stares back!
Arriving in a thundering cascade of crashing drums with a thick bass line making a fleeting yet formidable appearance, Fates Reveals is next. Like a mighty surge, the song reaches full force and drives forward with relentless momentum and majestic intent. Lyrically, it delves into the weight of human destiny, shaped not only by our own hands but by unseen forces that whisper through time. The vocalist proclaims, “I discovered that regret / can lead to meaning and fulfillment / we shape the path that we tread / a choice is all we have left.” These words hang in the air like a revelation, as the track ascends toward a climax of breathtaking intensity. The crescendo arrives, and twin guitars engage in a soaring solo, backed by the thunderous gallop of double-kick drumming. A triumphant, resounding finale that solidifies its place as the album’s defining force.
Beginning with a mournful, yearning riff, Her Desolate Land creates a haunting void. It lingers just long enough before the song bursts to life with accelerating tempo and fierce momentum. The band showcases their power metal prowess, delivering thick, sinister guitar riffs and thunderous drums that echo like the distant march of battle. It’s undeniably a powerful track, brimming with atmosphere and intensity. However, it feels somewhat chaotic, with shifting elements that make it harder to grasp the song’s flow. Yet, as it nears the final stretch, it regains its footing, surging forward with renewed force, ensuring a compelling close that leaves its mark. A strong offering with moments of brilliance, though a touch more clarity in the middle would elevate it even further.
Eternal Frost arrives like a relentless winter storm, with a double guitar riff cutting through the icy winds like jagged shards of frozen steel. The band’s power metal influence gleams like sunlight reflecting off an endless tundra, illuminating the song’s chilling grandeur. Early on, a distant bell tolls but it is a faint echo lost in the snowdrift when it should ring clear, a call through the frost-laden expanse. Then, a searing, glacial guitar solo slices through the blizzard, guiding the song toward its towering crescendo. This is the album’s frozen pinnacle! It’s a track that will send shivers down spines and raise fists to the sky, commanding the crowd to roar like a storm howling across the mountains.
Devoid of Reality takes flight like a tempest of the mind. The relentless pace surging forward with untamed energy, but beneath its high-speed charge lies a chilling descent into the fragile depths of madness. The vocalist wrestles with the abyss, crying out, “Am I just insane? / Or have I just gone away / to a bleak dimension where my penance is of sin?” A question not just asked but hurled into the cold void. Every element converges in perfect chaos. The guitars snarl and wail like voices from the ether, the drums thunder with an unrelenting pulse, the bass quakes to the marrow, and the vocals drip with anguish and revelation. It is not just a song, it’s a reckoning, a battle cry from the edge of reality itself.
Delivering a solemn message of lamentation, Dawning War invokes the horrors of battle, and the lasting scars left in its wake. The music itself is grand, sweeping, and ambitious, aiming for an epic scale that should resonate deeply. However, like Her Desolate Land, the song loses its way in the middle, drifting instead of driving forward with impact. It’s not a weak track, but compared to the album’s strongest moments, it lacks the bite and cohesion that elevate the best offerings. The ingredients are all here: thunderous instrumentation, evocative themes, but the execution doesn’t quite land with the force it needs. A song that aspires to greatness yet never fully reaches its potential.
Conclusion
This is a triumphant debut for Passage. It’s an album that showcases masterful musicianship, soaring operatic vocals, and evocative lyrical themes, all wrapped in polished production. Drawing inspiration from Fates Warning and King Diamond, the band doesn’t merely emulate their influences, they elevate them by weaving classic power metal elements into a sound that feels both timeless and fresh.
While the record is a resounding success, a few moments stand out for refinement. The tolling bell in Eternal Frost—a subtle but crucial detail—deserves to ring with full clarity, not fade into the background. Additionally, some tracks momentarily lose their way in the middle, despite commanding openings and powerful finales.
Yet, these are mere footnotes in an otherwise stellar achievement. Passage has arrived with force, and it’s easy to envision metal fans rallying to their call! They will be filling venues, fists raised, voices roaring in approval. This is only the beginning. Play it loud and prepare for what comes next!
TheNWOTHM Score: 8/10
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The Nwothm 
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