After a history consisting of three full-lengths and a couple of EPs since 2004, Georgia’s Halcyon Way recently made the jump from Nightmare Records to Agonia Records. The assumption as to why is purely speculative. Still, one wouldn’t be kicked out of bed for thinking it’s in hopes of breaking free of the progressive and power metal bubble the quintet has found themselves warmly and safely embraced by since the mid-aughts.
With all that warmth and safe space acceptance—Nightmare defines itself as a “prog-power label” in plain view on the internet—comes a certain amount of wheel spinning. The band ends up playing to a segmented audience, whether they realize it or not. Don’t think Halcyon Way or prog-power metal, in general, is being singled out; it happens to everyone from the biggest names to untold numbers of pornogrind bands drum machining out in mom’s basement.
Halcyon Way isn't heralded as iconoclastic saviours of prog/power majesty, but there has been enough individuation established here to warrant a forward push onto a wider world. Let’s hope their fanbase accepts their branch out and that newcomers look beyond the sterilized sound and elements of uniformity and notice this is a band trying to make a difference.
Score: 7/10
