Myrath has always had a special place in my heart. I have been to their home country, Tunisia, several times, and love their culture. I also love metal! While every album of theirs is solid, Wilderness of Mirrors feels more confident and expansive than their previous release, “Karma.”
From the opening of “The Funeral” to the final notes of “Through the Seasons,” the album takes you on a journey that’s sometimes dark, sometimes intense, but always compelling. Each of the ten tracks has its own presence, showing a band that’s comfortable with who they are and willing to explore the space between fantasy and reality.
Myrath blends Tunisian and Middle Eastern influences with progressive and power metal without ever sounding forced. The riffs hit hard, the melodies soar, and the arrangements feel cinematic. I was impressed as I listened. I often find that after the first few tracks, songs start diminishing in creativity and intensity. That’s not the case with “Wilderness of Mirrors.” Track four, “Les Enfants Du Soleil,” features a French-speaking children’s choir, and “Still the Dawn Will Come” is packed with drum-heavy rhythm, an impressive guitar solo by Malek Ben Arbia, and an amazing falsetto vocal performance by Zaher Zorgati.
Lyrically and emotionally, the album resonates deeply. There’s tension and release; darkness, and hope. “The Clown” is heavier, while “Soul of My Soul” is an emotional ballad that shows off the band’s softer side. “Edge of the Night” blends more Middle Eastern musical influences with European Power Metal. I love the guitar work in “Echo of the Fallen” for its great grooves, impressive solos, and occasional squeals, as well as its catchy vocal choruses. “Through the Seasons” is a perfect way to end the album- it starts out with a beautiful flute and quickly builds and bursts into an audio masterpiece. “Wilderness of Mirrors” is incredible!
Myrath is a band that knows what it wants to say and how to say it. For longtime fans, this album is an evolution; for new listeners, it’s a perfect introduction. Myrath is the Arabic word for “legacy,” and this album shows they’re building one worth remembering.
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