Pharaoh -- long-running melodic, traditional heavy metal from USA

Pharaoh

The Powers That Be

Cruz Del Sur Music

18 June 2021

Pharaoh features the voice of Tim Aymar, with whom Death founder Chuck Schuldiner (1967-2001) teamed up for the melodic band Control Denied. They have guitarist Matt Johnsen, who an older generation of magazine readers might remember from his days at Metal Maniacs. On drums it is Chris Black, who also wrote for Metal Maniacs and who is something like a music workaholic for his numerous projects and bands in which he does guitars, bass, keyboards, vocals and who knows what else. On bass they have Chris Kerns, who in the past has worked with Black on Dawnbringer. Their discography shows the following albums: After the Fire (2003); The Longest Night (2006); Be Gone (2008); Tribute to Coroner (split) (2010); Ten Years (EP) (2011); Bury the Light (2012); The Powers That Be (2021).

Over the course of the discography, Pharaoh has established a reputation for contemporary, mature, traditional heavy metal with singing (no growling), good guitar playing and skillful songwriting, with a good rhythm section and production. While not a prog band, they have an air of thoughtfully crafted compositions. Perhaps stimulated by their background as music critics, this U.S. act seems like a band that has cut out the weaknesses: bad lyrics, show-off high yelling (an irritation), weak singing, retro treading, so on and so forth. In short, Pharaoh is all about quality, again, perhaps due to the fact that these musicians themselves are very critical as listeners and composers. To their credit, this is headbanging music, not meandering prog. It is nine lean, focused songs in some 44 minutes. There must have been a reason that when Chuck Schuldiner heard Tim Aymar's singing Chuck was so impressed. That singing voice is as distinctive and unique as ever. It is also a strong voice, with no annoying qualities. The guitar work shows a certain level of effort and skill that listeners will not take long to notice. Reading over the lyrics, and hearing the songs, there appears to be no cursing at all, which makes the album even better as a mature, quality work. Unfortunately, at this rate, the next Pharaoh will not be complete until 2030. That gives us all more than plenty of time to dive into this work.

The Powers That Be by Pharaoh

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