out Sept. 3: Portrait - traditional heavy metal from Sweden

Portrait

At One with None

Metal Blade Records

3 September 2021

Over the course of 15 years Portrait has been working with the proposition that classic-style form of traditional, legacy heavy metal that can be skilled, and ominous, not a goofy, silly or joke music style. This, their fifth album, finds them continuing their trajectory, one that has been marked by good quality, and a certain uniqueness with their ominous heavy metal. The listener gets the feeling that the songs are crafted with attention to detail. The guitar work shines. The riffs and the melodies show a lot of work put in to make things worthwhile for the knowledgeable audiences expecting good guitar playing. The vocals are classic-style, prototype melodic singing with high notes. There are high notes, but it is not show-off nor horror-metal, which is why fans of classic-rock, heavy rock singing in the melodic style would be potential listeners. The singing is the not schizophrenic King Diamond horror creepiness, although in the high notes, there is sometimes a distant yet detectable echo of Mercyful Fate. "A Murder of Crows" is probably the most Mercyful Fate/King Diamond-ish, the one where they purposely indulged in their inspirations.

A good reason to look into Portrait is because they do not disguise their music. Disguises can be things like speed, blasting, playing really slow, adding lots of ambient sounds, or certain brand/name production. Listen not because the production fits a certain scene, not because they have a good gimmick (they don't). They have no mascot, no fake personas, no speed/slow tricks. Listen to enjoy the art of good guitar playing, good riffs, with also interesting, traditional melodies and solos playing on top of the rhythms. Listeners may also notice the good rhythm section, and the clear drum sound, of course, as it is an entertaining part of the sound. It’s been a good while since their previous album in 2017, but this is another strong chapter in the band’s discography.

At One with None by Portrait

[This is the previous album.]

Burn the World by Portrait

https://www.facebook.com/portraitsweden/