Maximum Metal Rating Legend
5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
1.5-1 Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
0 Terrible - Waste of your life and time.

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Band
Pharaoh
Title
Be Gone
Type
LP/EP
Company
Cruz Del Sur
YOR
2008
Style
Power
11/21/2009 - Review by: Vinaya Saksena

Pharaoh
Be Gone

Company: Cruz del Sur
Release: 2008
Genre: Power
Reviewer: Vinaya

  • Constantly croaky vocals begin to grate on the nerves



  • This is the product of a skilled American unit with a fairly basic but somewhat fresh take on power metal, but man, listening to Be Gone makes me wish frontman Tim Aymar would do just that. Yes, while guitarist Matt Johnson and his bandmates clearly have the rudiments of their craft down solidly, Aymar's constantly croaky vocals begin to grate on the nerves but quick, even as the commendably slicks riffs of tracks like "Dark New Life" and "Red Honor" fly by. Aymar, of course, previously served as vocalist for Control Denied, a side project of the late Chuck Schuldiner which I had quite a bit of respect for, despite not really being a fan of Schuldiner's main band, Death. Lyrically, Pharaoh seem to have something fairly intelligent to say on many of these songs, and again, all is at least competently done, from the production and musicianship to the nifty otherworldly cover art. Really, it's Aymar's vocal style and little else that prevents me from rating this higher. I mean, I've heard worse, and I suppose not every power metal band needs to be fronted by a Michael Kiske wannabe. I just don't like that growly, croaky vocal style, even if it's a tuneful croak surrounded by quality musical elements.

    Note: Among those quality musical elements, apparently, are guitar solos performed by Dofka namesake Jim Dofka (on "No Remains") and Riot's smoking, Les Paul-wielding duo of Mark Reale and Mike Flyntz (doing the honors on "Dark New Life").


    • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
      3 :AVE RATING

    ALL REVIEWS FOR: PHARAOH
    TITLE
    DOR
    COMPANY
    REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
    After the Fire
    2003
    Cruz Del Sur
    Josh Greer2/17/2004
    -
    Be Gone
    2008
    Cruz Del Sur
    Vinaya Saksena11/21/2009
    3
    The Longest Night
    2006
    Cruz Del Sur
    Eric Compton5/16/2006
    -

    ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: PHARAOH
    INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE


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