Mirror are something of a supergroup – featuring current and former members of Repulsion, Satan's Wrath, and Electric Wizard. Suffice to say – you wouldn't expect these guys to be making rock and roll in the grand old style, and yet here they are, with flashy riffs and epic soundscapes that carry the listener off on a weird journey. There is a very real magic to what Mirror have been able to do on their debut release – an album that hints at great things to come.
The mix of soulful playing, hard hitting riffs and sheer pizazz that define this record make it reminiscent of Deep Purple, or perhaps even Thin Lizzy. There is something distinctly grandiose about Mirror, and they understand their own bombast. The key to the whole thing is the soaring vocals of Jimmy Mavromatis, which are simply stunning. There is something incredibly exciting about his delivery – it's almost reminiscent of Ian Gillan or Rob Halford in terms of its brassy majesty. It's hard not to fall in love with Mirror – the band is clearly having fun and the record is a blast to listen to – what more could a rock and roll lover want?
At the end of the day – Mirror have proven, to me at least, that they are one of the most potent rock bands out there. It's always nice to see legends pay tribute to their roots, and to hear musicians as iconic as these go out and belt out rock and roll that resonates in 2015 is a huge pleasure. Melodic, dramatic, and over the top – Mirror understand what rock and roll was meant to be about, so dive on in – Mirror are keeping the magic alive!
8/10