Fairyland - The Story Remains
(Frontiers Music SRL – 2025)
(Genre: Symphonic Metal)
French Symphonic Metal band, Fairyland deliver an album full of all the ingredients any fan of this genre will enjoy.
Musically ‘The Story Remains’ is an epic, grandiose and majestic listen. Archie Caine (Vocals) Willdric Lievin (Guitar, Bass, Backing Vocals) Gideon Ricardo (Keyboards) Brieuc De Groof (Guitars) and JB Pol (Drums) are five men with plenty of talent in this field. The album begins in rather consistent form with a string of solid tracks from the off.
Opening album duo of the intro track ‘Downfall’ and ‘To Stars and Beyond’ have strong nods in style towards Nightwish. Track 6 ‘Hopeless Still’ stands out, stepping up the quality. Pol’s drum work is central to the song and the guitar work is showcased well here.
‘Unity’ is another solid song where Pol’s drumming gives the track its power and drive. The other musical components enrobe this song with symphonic style. ‘The Chosen Ones’ allows Gideon Ricardo to really show his work on the keyboards, while Pol once again delivers on drums.
The 10 minute epic ‘Unbreakable’ is full symphonic majesty! Fairyland flourish as they deliver the albums show-piece track. ‘Postscript’ is a grand instrumental with a movie like score quality to it. It transports the listener to fantasy world akin the Middle Earth or Narnia. It is a rich tapestry of a musical arrangement.
What I assume is a bonus track in ‘Suffering Ages’ has a more power metal style to it. Guest vocals from Elisa C. Martin, who has a power metal background helps produce this style change. The drums and guitar work impresses throughout the track.
This is Fairyland's fifth album in their discography and first with Vocalist, Archie Caine on the mic. I don’t know the bands earlier material but would imagine from hearing ‘The Story Remains’ that they have now fully found and mastered their sound.
Recommended to symphonic metal fans out there who I am certain will enjoy this release.
By Carl Mace