Derade - Soldiers of Creation

Originally posted on Heaps of Metal 02.03.20

Derade is a 4-piece from the Suffolk area (UK) consisting of Guy Radford (guitars), Mark Radford (guitars), Lisa Skinner (Vocals), Paul Skinner (drums)

They describe the music as Baroque metal, being influenced by classical music.

The songs are fast paced, and would appeal to fans of power metal and melodic metal. Like folk metal bands usually having folk instruments, most fans of symphonic metal would expect from a Baroque metal band to have keyboard or orchestral arrangements, however this band is strictly guitars, bass, vocals and drums, which shows again that it’s the melodies that make the style, not the instruments.

The classic symphonic influence is clearest in the instrumental Amentra, but is present through the album.

The album is overall well composed, often playing two melodies at the same time. The mix is very good, particularly at balancing the guitars and vocals.

The drums of Paul Skinner fit the music well and remind me a bit of 80s Queensryche. With so much going on in the arrangements it’s easy not to notice the drumming at the first listening, however it is well worth paying attention to.   

Lisa Skinners vocal melodies remind me of the Russian heavy metal band Aella as well as the Italian symphonic power metal band Rhapsody, which makes me suspect there to be a classical influence to the vocal lines. The song Firefight even draws us into opera vocal territory, which shows the range of Lisa Skinners vocal training and ability to switch between styles.

The guitar work has a lot of lead melodies, even on the vocal parts, not unlike the arrangements of Blind Guardian, Crimson Glory, Warlord or Dark Tranquillity.

The melodies and riffs are however more in the line of Stratovarius, Chastain and Rhapsody. The abundance of guitar melodies, as well as quite technical guitar parts that are still melodic is one of the bands strong points.

The sound of the guitars is varies between a thick fuzzy distortion and a more saturated tube driven lead, of which I prefer the later.

There is a bass guitar present as well, although there’s no information about who in the band plays it. The bass guitar is present, but far from prominent, which is fitting for a band without a bass player.

My main issue with this album is that it’s too short. Clocking in at only 36:45 with 9 songs, it leaves me wanting to hear more from this band.

I was also going to berate the band for not having a physical release, but I just discovered that they do! So head over and buy this album: https://derade.bandcamp.com/album/soldiers-of-creation

Link to facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guyderade/

Link to bandcamp: https://derade.bandcamp.com/releases