As the title of the album in some way reveals, the main theme of the album is about a book. Specifically the book of chaos which I may not know what this book is about, but I know that books usually have stories. And the “The Book of Chaos” feels like a book full of dark fairy tales that come alive in the music of the Tales of the Old. Dark, haunting, forbidden stories presented in a beautiful music. That is what the album feels like once the listener has emerged into its world.
Tales of the Old introduce themselves as a Symphonic Dark Ambient Power Metal band, which is quite too specific but really accurate. Also, they save you a lot of time when it comes to describe their sound since they have provided that for you. Now, all it needs is to add a “great” or “beautiful” in the start of the title and it is done. However, in case the title doesn’t form a general idea of the musical direction of the band, imagine Nox Arcana taking up metal and adding power metal riffs and Bob Katsionis as a producer.
And the time comes that one has to pay the devil its dues. All these compositions and musical arrangement was done by the main man behind the Tales of the Old, Mike Tzanakis. Mike along with Bob Katsionis as producer, formed and shaped what you now enjoy as the sound of Tales of the Old. The musical dream of Mike is endorsed, also, by the Fabio Lione, Sakis Tolis, Fotis Bernando and Androniki Skoula of Chaostar, who participated in the album as guest vocalists.
Having said all these, there is nothing but to state once more what is already stated. The “The Book of Chaos” is a great album, unique sounding that offers a new and darker approach to the power metal genre. Definitely worth checking out.
1. Heavens in War
2. Fallen Angels
3. Beware
4. Dark Witch
5. Let Your Hatred Be
6. Tortured Souls
7. The Book of Chaos
8. Contract of Blood
9. Broken Heart
10. The Invocation
11. The First Exorcism
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