Fractal Gates - "The Light That Shines" Review

A Progressive Melodic Death quartet from the capital of France returns with their third album entitled “The Light That Shines”. After 5 years since the last album was released, Fractal Gates comes back with its most mature album to date. Buckle up, sit back and take a deep breath, my intronauts, we are being launched into deep space. 3-2-1 - IGNITION! 

Let us scan through 13 songs featured on this album.
1. Visions X is a typical gateway “spacy” opening track that escalates and plunges its listener to the third fractal musical cosmic saga.
2. Breath of Life sets the tone and the mood of the album with its galloping drums and catchy lead guitars. Sebastien guttural vocals sound always powerful and go well along with the music. Keys and synths always present on this track but never exaggerated.

3. We are at full speed ahead, my friends as we enter the third track. Chasing the Line is probably the most straightforward song on the album and If I were to pick a single track for the album it would be this track. It also features a solo that was perfectly handled by Jérôme Boumendil.
4. Infinity must be my favorite track of the first half. It has all the elements of an outstanding melodic death song from start to finish with its head banging bridge, a chorus that would make you sing along and a fast and furious solo.

5. During the track Bound by Time things slow down a bit as our ship continues to travel through space. Bound by Time has some progressive vibes. The tempo changes several time which makes you reflect and look back to the progress we made so far.
6. Dreams Apart is another mid tempo song. It concludes the first half with excellent lyrics, “Everdrifting away dreams apart”. Very solid synth work here with very typical Fractal Gates delayed guitar tone sound.

7. Visions XI has some Mass Effect influences and sound much more like Sebdoom track, a solo instrumental project by Sebastien Pierre. Great opening track for the second half of the album.
8. Faceless – is the highlight of the whole album. The things that make this song stand out are combination of amazing chorus, dreamy synths and stellar guitar parts. Just let yourself dive into this majestic song and you will be completely blown away at the end wanting to hit reply again.
9. Arise reminds me something of Scar Symmetry alley. No wonder the solo on this track was performed by Ben Ellis, a guitarist from Scar Symmetry.

  Reborn – is amongst the fastest tracks on the album. The ending piece is my favorite with its dreamy atmospheric guitar part that becomes muted by Sebastien whispers, "Reborn, unbind, Stuck in this realm, dreaming of life".
11. The Light That Shines is the title track of the album. You got to listen to it just for the Jari Lindholm’s (ex-AtomA, Enshine, Exgenesis, Seas of Years) trademark solo that comes in halfway through the song. It’s heartbreaking and recognizable as always.
12. Seas of Flames is the longest track on the album. By the end of it I was a little disappointed because I was expecting to hear a doomy, slow paced song that would bring this amazing album to an end. Instead we have another solid, fast melodic death song that will be favored by many for sure.
13. Visions XII is another drone outro with a white sound noise at the end to make us feel as we are out of reach and cut off from our race. Instant Replay!

Overall, I believe this album is as good as its predecessor. Just like previous one, the new album was mixed and mastered by Dan Swano in Sweden. This time around it features more fast, upbeat songs, though has some drawback such us lack of clean vocals and a doomy, progressive feeling that the other two albums had. Production is flawless, guitars sound sharp and clean, vocals are powerful and drums are pounding. Well done Fractal Gates, you have done it again!

Ratings and notes 

Production:
Guitar – 0.5 out of 0.5
Vocals – 0.5 out of 0.5
Drums – 0.5 out of 0.5
Mix – 0.5 out of 0.5
Mastering – 0.5 out of 0.5
Maximum score: 2.5 out of 2.5

Songwriting:
Atmosphere – 0.5 out of 0.5
Melody – 0.5 out of 0.5 
Catchiness – 0.5 out of 0.5
Harmony – 0.25 out of 0.5
Variety – 0.25 out of 0.5
Maximum score: 2 out of 2.5

Instruments and musician skills:
Keys and synths – 0.5 out of 0.5
Drums – 0.5 out of 0.5
Guitar (solo & rhythm) – 0.5 out of 0.5
Bass – 0.5 out of 0.5
Vocals – 0.25 out of 0.5 
Maximum score: 2.25 out of 2.5

Other:
Lyrics – 0.25 out of 0.5
Visuals – 0.5 out of 0.5
Concept – 0.5 out of 0.5
Creativity – 0.25 out of 0.5
Soul – 0.5 out of 0.5
Maximum score: 1.75 out of 2.5 

The final score: 8.5 out of 10 
Please visit official Fractal Gates bandcamp to preorder digital version of the album: https://fractalgates.bandcamp.com/album/the-light-that-shines

 
The album is released through Rain Without End Records on May 12, 2018. Preorder your copy at:
https://shop.naturmacht.com/fractal-gates-cd-bundle?search=fractal%2520gates
https://naturmachtproductions.bandcamp.com/album/the-light-that-shines