Silent Script Review

Band	Veritas
Album	Silent Script
Type	Album (Studio full-length)
Released	August 22, 2023
Genres	Progressive Heavy / Power Metal
Labels	Sliptrick Records
Length	48:36

Reviewer :  prixmypouts         Rating :  90 / 100

The mix between influences of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal in the USA gave birth to US Metal DNA in the early days of the 80s, being slightly different from European Metal Schools due the technical care, melodic appeal and energy (hey, come on, I wrote this explanation with deeper words countless times in the past, please). Still today these features are heard on US Metal acts, even with a different dressing. But some bands prefers to have something more personal, even using the old features of the past, as the quartet VERITAS, from Kansas City (Kansas) with their second attack called “Silent Script”. Their music can be said as classic US Power Metal that uses an embodiment inherited from Progressive Rock/Metal acts as FATES WARNING and QUEENSRŸCHE, mixed with the strength of the weight of bands as SANCTUARY, and the final result is something amazing for the ears, something that’s hooking and melodic, but technical and refined, with excellent contrasts.

It’s heavy and full of vitality, strong and aggressive when things demands, but with a technical care above the norm and it’s always very good to be heard and enjoyed. For those into US Metal, their work is on that kind named as ‘must have’. “Silent Script” was mixed at Wild Horse Recording Studios, at Minnesota, by the hands of Daryl Bolicek. Of course things could be better (it’s not a problem on the mixing to be clear) in the shaping of the instrumental tunes and recordings, because things sounds a bit rawer than the needed. It’s not bad, but could be better.

Musically, the quartet is expressive and shows strength on their second album, and deserves applause. And for a first experience on “Silent Script”, taste “Limit” (a song that mixes melodies, technique, weight and aggressiveness in an excellent way, with very good guitar riffs and expressive vocals), “Creation Groans” (a heavier song with slower tempos that brings US Metal natural elements, with a technical and heavy work on bass guitar and drums), “Grind Away” (pay attention to the classic US Prog Metal appeal of the 80s during the chorus), “Buried” (this one brings something of Southern Rock of the 70s on its melodies, but keeping the weight and technical approach of the band’s music as well), “None Enslaved” (what lovely heavy melodies are unleashed on its harmonies and excellent vocals), “Oxygen” (pay attention to the technical use of the cymbals on the drums and on the bass parts), “More than I Can Say” (that darkened and ethereal feeling used by many US Metal acts is heard here in a very good way, with charming guitars’ arrangements), and “Modulate”, and these ones will do the work.

Some maturing will help VERITAS to set things in a better shape in the future. But for now, “Silent Script” is really a great release.