This Italian band EmpYrios was founded in 2001 by Simone Mularoni (guitar) and Matteo Mastroianni (drums), both great fans of Yngwie J. Malmsteen, Symphony X and Kansas. Later Emanuele Casali (Keyboard player of Astra; the Italian Dream Theater tribute band) and unDEAD guitar player Simone Bertozzi added EmpYrios. The music on …And The Rest Is Silence is best described as a mix of Symphony X, Dream Theater and Evergrey (real heavy riffs). The vocals of Simone Mularoni can’t be compared with the vocals of James LaBrie or Allen Russel but surely fit the music. Musically (riffs, keyboards and structure) EmpYrios is most comparable to Symphony X. Notwithstanding the influences of the above-mentioned bands, most of the time EmpYrios have a sound of their own.

The album starts rather aggressive and progressive. ´Tort´ is a typical song stylistically between the great progressive bands Symphony X and Dream Theater.

There are several up-tempo progressive songs, like ´The Ruiner´ and ´Perserverance´. ´Insommania´ reminds me of the Twilight In Olympus album of Symphony X; the riffs and the music are equal of the atmosphere of this great album. ´Failure Of Eye´ is a great heavy progressive metal song, the vocals of Silvio Mancini are not the strongest part of the song. With ´Eal´ Empyrios has a symphonic acoustic ballad with a great guitar solo. The last track ´FarCry´ is an instrumental song, but it doesn’t fit with the other songs.

For all progressive metal fans, EmpYrios has released a debut album that is worth hearing; musically the band is absolutely great, the vocals however are sometimes some less strong. Listen to …And The Rest Is Silence and judge for yourselves. I guess you will buy this album.