Moonlight Haze - Animus (2022)

Fronted by the charismatic Chiara Tricarico, today we have a superbly bombastic release filled with Symphonic/Gothic and Power Metal elements titled “Animus”. As the third full-length release of Moonlight Haze, the band shows maturity and refinement in their style, delivering almost 45 minutes of catchy and engaging music

Opening with “The Nothing”, we instantly get that lush and explosive vibe of bands like Nightwish, Visions of Atlantis, Epica, etc. However, what sets the band apart is Tricarico’s vocals and their own dynamism as shown in the dreamy “It’s Insane”, “Kintsugi” and its lush choral arrangements, and our personal favorite the cinematic “The Thief and the Moon”.

The band’s music is quite well crafted, with killer guitar leads, melodic interludes, and intricate drumming, making their sound quite well-rounded, with “Midnight Haze”, “Tonight”, and “We’ll Be Free” being perfect examples of this. There are obviously clear influences from the previously mentioned bands, but there are also some epic Stratovarius-like moments on pieces like “A Ritual of Fire” that could bring over the Power Metal fans to the band’s sound.

As a whole, “Animus” is a very well crafted cinematic experience from start to end. With a wide variety of influences and elements thrown into the mix, Moonlight Haze creates a very dynamic personal sound that sets them apart from the rest. If you are a fan of the genre, this release is a nice addition to any collection as it conveys emotion and craftsmanship in every single track.

Label: Scarlet Records

Release: March 18th, 2022

Genre: Symphonic/Gothic/Power Metal

Country: Italy