Studying Latin at school I always used ‘Tempus Fugit’ to translate the common saying “Time flies.” Fugit (to flee or escape or fly) always seemed a better verb than Volo (or Volat in the third person present singular active indicative) which was more about desire or wishing rather than escaping, even though both verbs translate as ‘fly.’ You’d have to ask the band about their choice of words though in naming their debut EP. Instriumae isn’t our normal cup of tea with them being a Belgian instrumental symphonic rock band, but I’ll give anything a spin if someone makes the effort to send it in.
And very enjoyable this is too even for someone who generally fails to connect with instrumental music. There’s just something about Metal and the violin that works for me and whilst the EP is a brief four tracks – three rather great and one not so much – it’s all rather promising.
The title track opens with chiming bells and footsteps before the riff kicks in and the guitars and violin work their magic. We build to a wonderful pace and great solo before a rather martial ending. It’s a track to really open things up. ‘Spes Bona’ that follows is bordering on Power Metal and brimming with power and energy and equally as beguiling. Sadly in a way that impressive work is a little undone by the abrupt change of pace that comes with ‘Lex Naturae’ though conceptually it fts if here we are looking at time and changes in nature. It’s just a song that you could have got away with on a longer release and has some nice moments even if it does feel a little unfinished.
Final track ‘Ab Initio’ again flirts with Power Metal at the Maiden end of the scales, it clips along at a pace and again some of the violin is wonderful. If you love bands like Apocalyptica then you’ll probably like this too – there’s a nice Metallic backbone to the symphonic and power metal sounds and box the mix and the individual performances are spot on. Can’t wait to hear more.