Album Review: Fellowship – The Skies Above Eternity (Symphonic Power Metal)

Written by Kep

I know what you’re thinking: why in the hell is the death metal guy from Noob Heavy writing a power metal review? It’s a valid question. In answer, I say this: most of the time I choose what albums I want to review. Every once in a great while, though, an album I never expected to dig into grabs hold and won’t let go, leaving me no choice but to write about it. That’s what Fellowship’s new record has done. The Skies Above Eternity is a brilliant, fervent piece of music-making that brings a smile to the face and a buoyancy to the heart, and I’ve fallen in absolute love with it. 

Formed in 2019 and sporting a discography comprised of two EPs and one previous LP, the UK-based outfit have established a passionate fan base in a relatively short period of time. Their distinctly joyous and uplifting approach to power metal, coupled with a uniqueness of delivery (more on that later), has endeared them quickly to fans of the genre, and having already heard the name floating around in that sense, I took note when power metal connoisseur Eldritch Elitist of Angry Metal Guy gave the new album high praise on the ruin-strewn wasteland formerly known as Twitter. When our own Westin also spoke of the record highly, I tentatively stuck it on my listening list. Then, one day not long ago, I was looking for something to brighten my spirits and took a chance on it. 20 or so listens later, here we are.

The Skies Above Eternity is a collection of some of the most heartfelt, catchy, life-celebrating songs I’ve heard. The passion and joy with which Fellowship play is evident at every turn, from the speedy ramp-up into opener “Hold Up Your Hearts (Again)” to the final strains of closing instrumental “Memories on the Wind”. It’s classic power metal songwriting that instantly connects—standard verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/chorus stuff, with the occasional rousing key change somewhere in that last chorus section—all anthemic melodies, solos that soar and shred in equal measure, and enough exuberant energy to power a small city. The guitars are clean and piercing, the drums crisp, the bass bright and steely, and the production is downright sterling, keeping focus smartly on the core instruments and placing the band’s symphonic effects in primarily supporting roles. The instrumental hooks are infectious and ear-wormy, with the right balance of expected and unexpected in their progressions to feel familiar but fresh. I’ve been humming hooks and melodies around the house constantly; even my seven-year-old daughter has been singing Fellowship songs (and reveling in the fact that she’s been able to listen to them weeks early). 

Frontman Matthew Corry isn’t quite your traditional power metal frontman, but that’s part of what I love about this group. You won’t find any wide wailing vibrato or gritty pseudo-singing; Corry’s voice is bright and pure, with a lively energy that shines from it like warm light. Westin called his delivery “earnest,” and I’m not sure that I could’ve come up with a more apt term. It’s Corry’s heartfelt tone that makes lyrics like “The hope of a new day is dawning / For now our fear is a thing of the past” (“A New Hope”) and “I know the iron sky / Will never stop this light / Not when the dawn is strong enough / To break the heart of night” (“Dawnbreaker”) feel hopeful and invigorating rather than cheesy. He doesn’t soar as consistently high as frontmen like, say, Twilight Force’s Allyon, but he doesn’t lack range or ability: I clocked him as high as an E5, and his pitch accuracy is as good as it gets in the genre. His is a unique and genuinely appealing vocal approach, and by the end of the album you feel like Corry is a friend, fighting the battle of life by your side. 

When it comes down to it, power metal fans are here for spirited songs that you can’t help but want to hear over and over again, and that’s what The Skies Above Eternity has in spades, each with a distinct energy and without the band having to reuse tricks or melody. “Hold Up Your Hearts (Again)” is the kind of exhilarating anthem they’ll be playing live for the rest of their career, complete with your classic jaw-dropping guitar solo that never seems to end (complimentary), while “Victim”, a personal favorite of mine, gallops forth with harmonized leads and vigorous bass licks to tell an uplifting story of defying one’s lot in life. The danceable beat and breathless excitement of “Dawnbreaker” is as catchy as anything you’ll hear (Jeff from Owlbear called it “such an anime opening that you can see a title drop right as the lead guitar enters” and I fucking concur), while back half gem “World End Slowly” and its cinematic cascading synth and guitar arpeggios bring the warmth and camaraderie with thoughts of togetherness: “If this is the end / At least I’m with friends / Value the long goodbye”. There’s not a single dud track in the runtime, and their consistent quality is such that I expect people’s favorite tracks will vary wildly. 

THE BOTTOM LINE

I don’t frequently feel this strongly about power metal, but Fellowship’s newest outing is a big enough triumph that I couldn’t help but sing its praises. The Skies Above Eternity is a joyous, inspiring listen that has quickly found its way into my heart, and I’m sure it will do the same for many of you.