The band from the two sides of America, Tucson and Montreal, are bringing out their second completed album four years after their previous one. This time period is long but the outcome is unfortunately mediocre.
Insatia’s melodic metal with a touch of symphonic isn’t bad but it’s something very predictable and quite typical. “Phoenix Aflame” can hardly keep you alert even though it has quite a few good moments with its guitars. Composing-wise, I believe that it’s nothing more than a mediocrity and that’s where I stop analyzing it.
For once more in a release of this kind, we meet a lot and important guests. Apollo Papathanesio (ex-Firewind, Spiritual Beggers), Chris Amott (ex-Arch Enemy, Armageddon), Christian Hermsdorfer (ex-Visions Of Atlantis, Serenity, Beyond The Black), and Erica James (The Erica James Band), add to the record essential appearances but it is important to understand that no matter who you invite to take part in your work if that is of mediocre quality it will remain like that.
Those who are fans of melodic-symphonic metal can chek out “Phoenix Aflame”; personally I won’t include it in my preference list of the best albums of 2017 at the end of the year.
