Beto Vazquez INFINITY “Darkmind” /CD/

European re-release of the third full-length album by Argentinean Melodic Symphonic Power Metal band.
The previous Infinity albums featured guests like Tarja Turunen (ex-Nightwish), Candice Night (Blackmore's Night) and Fabio Lione (Rhapsody Of Fire) among others on the first, Antti Railio (Celesty), Aldo Lonobile (Secret Sphere) Sonia Pineault (Forgotten Tales) and more on the second. Now Beto Vazquez is back, featuring a guest list that isn't less impressive than on the previous CDs: Olaf Thorson (Vision Divine), Sandra Schleret (Elis), Marcela Bovio (Stream Of Passion), Eddy Antonini and Kiara (Skylark), Manda Ophuis and H. J. (Nemesea), Pablo G. Soler and a few more should be enough to whet the interest of most Melodic Metal lovers. 
The music style should be fairly obvious. This is of course female-fronted Symphonic Power Metal, reminiscent of a mix of a lot of bands already mentioned in this review. Most of the songs are very mellow and the album has a lot of ballads, still the CD as a whole is very multi-layered.
Production-wise this release is superb. At exactly the right times it feels slightly unpolished and on the parts where it should be, it's as clean as the glasses in every washing powder commercial.
In regards to the list of guest musicians mr. Vazquez could have done something better. It's also unfortunate that a couple of the guests sound very similar, the same thing is true for the three not-guest vocalists the band has. Also some more really powerful songs wouldn't have done the album any bad.
Still "Darkmind" is a very good album. It might not sink in on the very first listen, but after a few spins, especially in quiet and peaceful moments, fans of Melodic Metal should be able to greatly appreciate it!
Re-edition includes two bonus tracks.
BVM Records/IceWarrior Records, 2008/2010 (IWR-4/RIUCD-201020). Made in Germany. Pressed in France.


Tracklist:
1. From Your Heart 3:12 
2. Kingdom Of Liberty 4:34 
3. Magical Moments Of Time 4:44 
4. Mystic 3:28 
5. DARKMIND 4:36 
6. For Time Runs In My Veins 3:40 
7. Sleeping In The Shadows 6:16 
8. Chronicles Of A World Without Gods 3:40 
9. Close Your Eyes 4:30 
10. Follow The Moonlight 3:43 
11. Memories Of Reinglow 4:39
Bonus Tracks:
12. The Tunnel Of The Souls (Spanish Version) 4:21 B
13. Again (Demo Version - Exclusive IceWarrior Bonustrack) 4:26
Total playing time: 55:49 min.


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