Equilibrium – ‘Sagas’ Vinyl

Equilibrium is a German heavy metal band that combines pure, undiluted heavy metal with keyboards, violins, flutes, horns/trumpets, accordions, and other instruments. The album often feels as if a Lord of the Rings soundtrack collided with old Metallica. Sometimes the album makes me want to headbang, and sometimes it makes us dance while headbanging.

If you think Equilibrium may be a Rhapsody, Kamelot, or Symphony X knockoff, they are not. The classical instruments are thrown in to accentuate the metal, not make it cheesy, where so many other bands have failed. The guitar work is fantastic. And the female that plays the bass is excellent. The music is uplifting and sometimes brilliant in the way a classic like Beethoven can strike a chord in someone. The singing is in German; we think the screams and growls sound great as they are not overdone.

Like others have said, the atmosphere within the music (done through keyboards) is impressive. If you are a fan of Amorphis, Ensiferum or Wintersun, you will be in for a treat.