I just picked up this album a month ago, and I have a lot of things to say of this band -- very promising too. This album is an interesting mix of traditional thrash metal, synth orchestrated along with siren-like female vocals. Now as a four piece but when the album recorded Patryck Pigeon was doing both the bass and guitar duties. Coming from the same region as Voivod they have a lot of ground to cover since Voivod did the goth and thrash metal fushion. Howling Syn did not get enough credit for what they are doing -- according to Vlad of Sister Sacrilege. I discovered this band in the summer of 2001 when I heard their instrumental "Living with Spiders."

The best way to describe what they do is combine Switchblade Symphony and Dead Can Dance with elements of Iced Earth, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, and Pantera (critia Far Beyond Driven.) The male vocals in parts will have death metal influences then have a few ranges that would echo both King Diamond and Type O Negative. They have two instrumentals that blew me out of the water -- the opening one would have the feel of Iron Maiden and Blind Guardian. This Canadian outfit gives metal its edge that it had so lost but bands like Iced Earth, Iron Maiden, Slayer and Megadeth (since then disbanded.) This is gothic music for those who find more in common with Megadeth and Iced Earth than with Cruxshadows. This album is a concept piece in the vein of bands who had done concept albums -- namely Queensryche and Iced Earth. Epic by all means -- the album is divided into two chapters. Chapter One is called Dark Tales of Rage and Romance and Chapter Two is called The War of Avalon (hints to the Witches of Avalon) and Epilogue. The stand out tracks on each chapter are As The Forest Speaks to me and the title track, for chapter one. For Chapter Two, Of Pagans and Fairy Tales and Medieval Years.

The skin abuser in the outfit has some true talent -- these Canadians have something that can give the American counterparts a run for their money (possibly influenced by Neil Peart of Rush. I heard a little bit of a Rush style skin abuse in there, very fast and very loud or even Away of Voivod. I have a feeling that Patryck jammed with members of Voivod at one time or another during practice sessions. Vlad and I were saying this band has some potential to be signed with Century Media or Metal Blade if given a real chance to play for them.) If you have the $13 USD -- send for this CD, it is well worth it for those who like their guitars really fast and melodic as well as the double bass blasting drums.

I found them on mp3.com and if one is interested in downloading some of their mp3's go to http://mp3.com/howlingsyn. Other bands that one would like if they like this band is the band I reviewed, Starry Wisdom Sect, and then Black Label Society (where Zakk Wylde did both the guitar and bass duties on this album in parts. This one is worth a listen too, 1919 Eternal, which is his new one. He took more of a Pantera route with the vocals on this one, the kick ass tracks on this one are Bleed For Me and Demise of Sanity. Both have influences of Black Sabbath in them as for this band does too.)