Ion Vein - Reigning Memories

Majesphere Records | 2003 | 12 songs (64:12) | Progressive Power Metal

Ion Vein, like many bands, came to me by way of sheer randomness. I was searching a download site for old Queensryche demos and I came across a cover version of Take Hold of the Flame, by Ion Vein. It was taken from the album Rebellion: A Tribute to Queensryche, one of the bazillion tribute albums Dwell Records has released. I downloaded it and gave it a listen. Once the vocalist started singing I was floored. While I generally like cover songs to be reinvented and personalized by the band that is covering the song, it’s not often you’re going to find a band able to emulate Queensryche virtually note for note (just listen to the album this song came from for proof of that). But not only did Ion Vein nail every aspect of this song, they managed to give it their own personal touch and make it their own while still clearly doing the original sweet justice.

So I went on the hunt. I found Ion Vein’s website, listened to the tracks, and I was hooked!

You won’t find a review out their that doesn’t mention Russ Klimczak’s ability to sound identical to Geoff Tate. It’s almost unsettling to know that it’s not Geoff Tate barreling through your speakers. Still, Klimczak does have his own voice, he’s not in Tate mode the whole album, just at times. Musically the band go from power metal to melodic rock to progressive metal to AOR with the grace and fluidity of a band that’s been around for 30 years, and though there are similarities in the vocal department, the band truly transcends comparison and has a firm hold on their own little metal niche.

I was lucky enough to score this copy—one of only two left at the time, which was a few years ago now—from guitarist Chris Lotesto, and it was money well spent. Reigning Memories is Ion Vein’s sophomore release after the long out-of-print debut, Beyond Tomorrow. The album starts off with a short intro called “Awakening,” opening the gates for “Another Life,” a heavy metal barnburner with a great hook, a killer, mellow mid-section and some fantastic solo work. The vocals are on point throughout, reminiscent of The Warning-era Geoff Tate: mid- to upper-range, strong and grandiose.

I won’t give a song-by-song description, but some highlights would include the progressive “Spiral Maze”—just listen to those solos and that bass line!—and the hook-heavy, AOR-cum-heavy metal scorcher, Faith And Majesty. A saxophone dominates the background of the ballad-esque “Twilight Garden” and it’s a welcome respite before the title track—another progressive monster—kicks in. The Adrian’s Ladder Trilogy features three songs—duh!—that have a nice, mild progressive lilt. It doesn’t quite live up to the epic stirrings that the word “trilogy” evokes, but it’s still a solid showcase of metal tunes.

Like I mentioned earlier, the band’s style runs the gamut, and they do so with ease. Reigning Memories is solid all around. It’s always good to come across a US heavy-metal act playing this kind of music and playing it well.

Unfortunately, if this review has piqued your interest, the album may be hard to find. As mentioned, the band’s own guitarist only had two copies before he sold me one, and that years ago. I know the band is currently working on a new album—which was actually supposed to be out in 2006—with a new singer, but maybe it’s time someone re-released both Beyond Tomorrow and Reigning Memories. Both are quite deserving.

Note: This review was originally published on MetalReviews.com.