Band : Pharaoh

Album title : Be Gone

Label : Cruz Del Sur

Distributor : Sonic Rendezvous

Release date : 23/04/2008

Release : CD

This Philladelphia based Heavy Metal outfit was borne in November 1997, when former Final Prayer (a Thrash Metal act) guitarist Keith Barnard and drummer Chris Black of Dawnbringer (Speed Metal) united with guitarist Matt Johnson and bassist Chris Kerns . However, after only a couple of rehearsals Barnard opted out of the project. The remaining trio were then joined by former Psycho Scream and Control Denied frontman Tim Aymar , and it's in this line-up that two songs were recorded for a 1998 Iron Maiden tribute album (a cover of "Aces High" plus a self-penned track titled "Solar Flight" ). Unfortunately for the act Aymar turned out to be a temporary solution only, and the next two years the band perfected their tracks instrumentally while looking out for the ideal singer.

When Argentinian label Icarus , who had already picked up on Danwbringer (issuing the 2000 album Catharsis Instinct ), expressed an interest in Pharaoh demos, a deal was struck with Aymar to put vocals to the album. However, with band members having other commitments the recordings were set back in time, and meanwhile a vicious crisis hit Argentine's economy. Eventually, the band signed the After The Fire album over to Italian Cruz del Sur label for release in 2003.

In 2005 the band enters the studio with producer Matt Crooks (also guitarist with Fools' Game , formerly with Division ) to record sophomore album The Longest Night , which had a notable guest performance by guitarist Chris Poland ( Megadeth , Damn The Machine , Ohm ) and was released in 2006. That same year the band allied with Canvas Solaris to record tracks for a split 7-inch tribute to Swiss band Coroner , Pharaoh covering "Tunnel Of Pain" . Meanwhile, the album became an instant favourite in Underground American circles and beyond, which became the positive inducement for the band members to start the songwriting process for a new album.

By July 2007, the band felt confident that the material they had at hand was strong enough to re-enter the studio with engineer/ producer Matt Crooks , and they continued to work during the rest of the year. The title of the album had been decided on months before the guys even entered the studio "...because a singular theme emerged early in the songwriting process. Songs such as the radiant "Speak To Me" and the bottomless epic "Buried At Sea" examine the inherent laws of mankind, pitted hopelessly against the seemingly omniscent and unwavering power of nature. Similarly, the soaring strains of "Dark New Life" and sinister waves of "Telepath" offer narratives from a world where the human race is blazing paths to literal and emotional extinction. The inevitable disappearance of mankind is the overaching theme embodied in Be Gone 's musical storytelling..." (from the biography/ info sheet we got along with our promo copy). Guest musicians this time around were Riot 's Mark Reale and Mike Flintz (on the track "Dark New Life" ) and Jim Dofka (on "No Remains "; which is not the first time he contributed to a Pharaoh album, since he's guested on all three) but even without those guesting guitarists there's enough guitar layers in each and every one of the 9 songs! There's a nice light progressive touch in those guitars, often goin' towards the epic side of things, and the compositions (well ripened in the band's rehearsal room, because they never played live!!!) are written/ developed accordingly. If you've never heard Aymar on the notorious Control Denied album (released in 1999, The Fragile Art Of Existence featured guitar by Chuck Duldiner of Death fame), check it out at myspace.com/pharaohmetal (two songs off each album posted). The music and vocal performance are both top-notch, and it's somewhat weird that the band never thought about getting their music on the road in order to promote the albums.

Well, that's something which is about to change, because the band (in a line-up comprising Canvas Soloris drummer Hunter Ginn , and adding Matt Crooks as second axeman) will be making their live debut at the Keep It True X festival on April 5 th at Tauberfrankenhalle in Lauda-Köningshofen, Germany. Although the actual album will only be released at the end of April, Cruz Del Sur will issue a limited edition digipak version of the album, including an exclusive embroidered patch, to be available from April 4 th . What hasn't been sold through pre-orders will be sold at the label's stand at the festival...lucky bastards!

If you've just been listening to the songs on the band's Myspace page, you'll know they're of a standard in the league of the likes of Iron Maiden , the singer nevertheless having his own vocal signature which may be seen somewhere Dickinson and a grittier Dio in his heaviest moments. Since the songwriting is equally as excellent, you can't expect but for me to catapult Be Gone in the "Best Albums Of 2008" list!

98/100

Tony.