Although there’s always been a strong melodic/progressive power metal scene in Australia, it’s really only been the last couple of years that the movement has really emerged to be something that the rest of the world is really starting to take notice of.

While groups such as Eyefear, Vanishing Point, Anarion and Black Majesty have been making a name for themselves on both a national and international level, another name is also quickly rising up within the ranks to help spearhead the growing Australian melodic/progressive power metal genre.

Originally forming in Perth (Western Australia) as far back as 2000, Voyager announced their arrival on the scene with the independently released debut album Element V in 2003 (later re-released by U.S. label DVS Records), which duly earned the band plenty of positive reviews.

In the four years since then, the band has gone through a major revamp in the lineup sense. Vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist Daniel “Nephil” Estrin and guitarist Mark De Vattimo still remain as the original founders. Newcomers to the group include guitarist Simone Dow, bassist Alex Canion (both of whom play alongside De Vattimo in Psychonaut) and drummer Mark Boeijen (ex-Pathogen/Vespers Descent).

Following on from successful tours supporting the likes of Steve Vai, Yngwie J. Malmsteen and Nevermore, the group signed up with German label Dockyard1 Records, with Univers their long overdue sophomore effort.

Unlike the group’s listed above within the progressive power metal, Voyager take a very different approach to the that genre’s sound. Rather than relying solely on power, the group opts for a greater focus on melody, which is clearly evident on the opening track “Higher Existence.” Although flirting with the odd death metal growl, “Higher Existence” is primarily a melodic hard rock song that is spiced with up progressive rock tendencies, with some subtle folk influences included to keep things interesting and varied.

On the slower pair of “Deep Weeds” and “Everwaiting,” Estrin demonstrates the full range of his voice with some truly haunting and memorable melodies. But it’s not limited to these two tracks exclusively, with the short “Between The Sheets,” the keyboard-driven “What I Need” and the heavily harmonized “One More Time” all boasting stunning chorus structures that best show off Estrin’s extremely melodic voice.

On the heavier side of things, tracks like “Sober” (which was released as a single in 2006), “Cross The Line,” the dual guitar-led “Pulse 04” and the closing track “White Shadow” (boasting a small return of the growled vocals) all possess a little extra aggression and speed, but not so much that they clash with the slower numbers.

With Univers, Voyager have delivered something a very different from most within the melodic/progressive power metal scene, so much so that the band’s appeal could well stretch beyond the metal scene.

www.voyager-australia.com