Album Review: Mike LePond's Silent Assassins - Whore of Babylon
Reviewed by Jon Wigg
Symphony X bassist Mike LePond presents the third album from his side project, Silent Assassins. Together with current Watchtower crooner, Alan Tecchio who provides grunt when required, and soaring melodic vocals that are the trademark of LePond’s projects, Silent Assassins are mainly as expected – solid US power metal, although there are song welcome twists.
All tracks are written by LePond and an eclectic bunch they are. There are the traditional power metal tracks like ‘Tell Tale Heart’, ‘Ironborn’ (with a nice main thrashy riff), ‘Lady Bathory’ and Manowar inspired ‘Power of Steel’. All 4 are good examples of the genre and apart from about 02:25 into ‘Tell Tale Heart’ when Tecchio seems to take on a couple too many note rises – made me smile.
Opener ‘Dracul Son’ is pretty much straight up thrash from the galloping start, to the most forceful vocals on the album, to the excellent solo from Lance Barnewold. ‘Ides of March’ is another power metaller but stands out due to the menacing bass riff that opens and runs through the track. This song really does feel like it’s telling a tale. This continues in folk metal powerhouse ‘Night of the Long Knives’. A mandolin opening from Michael Romeo who also provides the album’s keyboards and drum programming, is followed up with Celtic inspired riffs and even a more flamenco sounding solo section. This will be a live favourite due to the chantable chorus.
‘Champion’ has the addition of Sarah Teets (Mindmaze) on vocals and flute and is a straight up ballad. Teets’ voice is haunting and powerful and really adds to the album. Guitar work here is one of three tracks provided by Rod Rivera from Deadrisen (which also includes LePond). Title track ‘Whore of Babylon’ is another haunting track, slowed down to good effect with a real Middle Eastern feel with its sitar sound.
Final track is ‘Avalon’ and this was my standout along with opener ‘Dracul Son’. A rich bass opening leads to some great folk metal riffs. It really sounds like the participants here had a great time recording this one. Many won’t like the changes from quiet ballad parts, top mid-paced folk to up tempo power metal which fill the 8 and a half minute run time, but it pushed all my buttons.
My only real criticism here is the use of drum programming. It sounds fine but if anything is too precise and there are some sections especially the slower ones, when a little improvised fill would have really added to tracks.
Overall a fine album with a good mix of styles. Often power metal albums can sound very samey but this is certainly avoided here. Not a massive change, more of a continuation from 2018’s ‘Pawn and Prophecy’, ‘Whore of Babylon’ provides 2020 with some excellent US power metal with some pleasant twists.
