Spawned by Helloween in the mid-1980s then carried throughout the ensuing decade by the likes of Angra, Blind Guardian, Gamma Ray and Stratovarius, European power metal is a style few can master. Essential ingredients include a soaring vocalist, dueling guitars, a battering ram of a rhythm section and, most importantly, songs that both engage and inspire. It is rare when a young band displays such mastery of these skills, which is why Cruz Del Sur Music quickly swooped in and signed Massachusetts' Adamantis barely a month after the self-release of their Far Flung Realm debut full-length for proper release in 2021. Produced, mixed and mastered by Christian Moschus Moos of Spacelab Mixing, Far Flung Realm is the culmination of Adamantis's democratic writing process -- each member contributed to the album's 11 tracks. Lyrically, Far Flung Realm tackles a wide range of themes: Misbegotten Dream is about Elric of Melnibone from Michael Moorcock's Eternal Champion novels; Puppeteer's Bane'' is about a character from Steven Erikson's Gardens of the Moon. Songs such as Journey's End and Voron tackle themes of facing death and mortality, The Siege of Arkona details historical events, while fantastical themes are covered on Unbound Souls. Far Flung Realm also features a guest appearance from former Dark Moor singer Elisa C. Martin on The Oracle's Prophecy. Already championed by the influential NWOTHM Full Albums YouTube channel, Far Flung Realm is first-class, top-notch power metal, representing the style's past and bright future.
