CD review PANORAMA "Around the World"

(8/10) Panorama is a quite new metal outfit with a history that takes us back into 2008, Swiss guitarist Sammy Lasagni met Adagio frontman Christian Palin on tour. Already then the two musicians found some solid ground when it comes to music. The guys stayed in touch for many years before 2015 marked a turning point. The duo began to write songs which they planned to release on a debut. For recording the tunes the duo contacted no less than Dennis Ward who was impressed by what he got to hear. This led to Ward producing Panorama’s debut but also playing bass on the album. The line-up was complete by drummer Philipp Eichenberger and Finnish guitar player Ben Varon. Panorama was born and ready to rock.

It was this quintet that recorded „Around the World“ - Panorama‘s debut. What you get with this record are 44 minutes of finest melodic rock/metal, empowered by an excellent sound. The songs on this longplayer have in common that they are easy approachable and it‘s the hooks doing a perfect job. But instead of being a sugar sweet rock album this one has enough of a punch to also convince metal heads with a demand for heavier riffs.

While tracks like the opener „Around the World“ partly reminds of bands like Gotthard it‘s the more metallic ones that show the entire width of Panorama. Take „The Glory Within“. More than once I had to think about Queensryche‘s „Empire“ while listening to the guitar lines. And even having these cross references embedded, the song is not copying the sound of Seattle‘s finest. It‘s a melodic metal song the Panaorma-way that gets out of the boxes more than well.

Panorama is a band that‘s definitely worth to have on the list. These guys have quite some potential and let‘s see if the debut is more than just a flash in the pan.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Around the world
2. Standing my Ground
3. The Glory Within
4. Gates of Babylon
5. The Highest Mountain
6. Jammin in the Jungle
7. One for All
8. The Other Side
9. Heart Has Been Broken
10. Shout it out
11. World on Fire

Label: ROAR Records

Genre: Melodic Metal

Release Date EU: January 12th, 2018