Ah, SUNBURST, SUNBURST, what a beautiful gem you are! I don’t remember exactly how I stumbled upon this Greek wonder – it was either with “Dementia” or “Out of the World” – but stumble upon them I did! And after hearing not just Vasilis Georgiou’s impressive vocals but also Gus Drax’s guitar wizardry and those thundering bass lines, I knew I just had to listen to more from them. But ‘more’ at that point was just their debut album, “Fragments of Creation,” until “Manifesto” was released in mid-June 2024. Ten years after, we look upon what made “Fragments of Creation” – released on February 26, 2016, via Inner Wound Recordings – such an iconic album from SUNBURST that kept fans and critics alike in a state of anticipation for new music from this Greek 4-piece.
I think what attracted me the most to SUNBURST in the first place was the sheer amount of talent, technicality, and potential they displayed on this record. For a debut album, “Fragments of Creation” is not only incredibly well-crafted in terms of songwriting, lyrics, and melodies but also well-executed when it comes to the vocals and the instrumentals, especially the guitars. On the other hand, the production is a bit rough around the edges, but the all-around quality of these ten songs makes it easier to look past such imperfections. Moreover, I strongly believe that if SUNBURST had been more of a proper touring band and less of a studio/passion project, it would have been one of the best emergent bands of the 2010s in the power/progressive metal scene.
Talking about the album itself, heaviness and melody are the key-words that best describes it as from start to finish, “Fragments of Creation” provides crazy good guitar solos and meaty riffs from guitar-master Gus Drax (ex-SUICIDAL ANGELS, ex-PARADOX, BLACK FATE) with the instrumental Beyond the Darkest Sun showcasing his talent and skill, exceptional lyrics and vocal lines, excellent drumming, and skillful bass melodies. There are bands that are very good at disguising the heaviness of their music through catchy melodies, and SUNBURST are among the ones that employ this technique to their advantage. Generally, I am a sucker for good vocals, and while this album is full to the brim with great melodies courtesy of Vasilis Georgiou’s rich, velvety voice, it feels like the guitar is mostly in the spotlight, or at least in a continuous battle with the voice for supremacy, which is not a bad problem to have.
The opener, “Out of the World,” and the following “Dementia,” possibly the best tracks on this album, really set the bar high for the quality of the metal presented on this album, impressing with a balanced mix of melody, heaviness, excellent riffs, and catchy choruses. Fortunately, the rest of the songs are on par with what came before, as both “Symbol of Life” and “Reincarnation” keep the momentum of the album going at full speed with strong guitar melodies, incredible solo sections, and even stronger vocal deliveries that soar above a steady rhythmic section. Eventually, things slow down a bit with the mellow, piano-driven ballad “Lullaby,” where Vasilis Georgiou’s emotive vocals get to carry the otherwise atmospheric track.
The second half of the album is just as awesome, as there’s no drop in quality, no filler material, just killer melodies and exquisite instrumentals. If “End of the Game” delivers on all the trademarks, it is the instrumental monster “Beyond the Darkest Sun” that stands out simply because it showcases how tight the instrumentals are by not feeling incomplete with some accompanying vocals, and that is no small feat of songwriting and execution. I truly believe Gus Drax to be one of the most underrated guitarists to ever grace the metal scene with his talent; everything that he plays is impeccable. The semi-ballad “Forevermore” hooks you instantly with an earworm chorus, and the dark “Break the Core” shows a different side of Vasilis’s vocal abilities as he also delivers some harsh vocals. The first seconds of the wonderful “Remedy of my Heart” echo some Vangelis atmosphere (“Mythodea” to be more precise), but after the guitars kick in, it’s just an epic 12-minute-long track with plenty of twists and turns to satisfy even the most snobbish progressive metal enthusiast.
So, yeah, after dropping such an excellent debut album, SUNBURST pulled a Houdini and disappeared on us for almost eight years. Granted, in the autumn of 2020, we got a new BLACK FATE album, “Ithaca,” which meant that both Vasilis Georgiou and Gus Drax were still active in the studio, so that was something. SUNBURST eventually made their comeback with the stunning “Manifesto” in June 2024, an album that leans more into their progressive side. Getting back on track, the main merit of “Fragments of Creation” was that it introduced an incredibly talented bunch of musicians through ten tight, melodic, and heavy tracks that left many hungry for more. Moreover, ten years after the album still resonates with the same nuanced songwriting, melodic intensity, and technical virtuosity as it did when I first heard it.
Written by Andrea Crow
Tracklist
1. Out Of The World
2. Dementia
3. Symbol Of Life
4. Reincarnation
5. Lullaby
6. End Of The Game
7. Beyond The Darkest Sun
8. Forevermore
9. Break The Core
10. Remedy Of My Heart
Lineup
- Vasilis Georgiou – Vocals
- Gus Drax – Guitars
- Kostas Milonas – Drums
- Nick Grey – Bass
Label
Inner Wound Recordings
