Van Canto
Hero

In the desolate lands of Power Metal, where packs of scavenger bands roam, feasting on the corpses of never-forgotten old glories, you can still spot a few specimens different from the rest, immersed in the search for new innovations not to blend into the masses. In most cases, they are considered freak shows, ridiculed by musicians and fans for their bizarre modifications to the parent genre; yet, rarely, after the laughter and the initial sensation of witnessing a gigantic ruse, the audience realizes that beneath the inevitable comic factor lies something much more serious and admirable. Whether due to the technical skill with which they are executed or the sheer originality of them, it can happen that seemingly ridiculous innovations ignite a respectable career, and these outcasts of the music scene find themselves with a vast base of enthusiastic fans from one day to the next.

Van Canto, for some years now, have been part of this latter category of artists, bolstered by their recent contract with Napalm and their three albums to their name. The reason for their originality is not difficult to grasp, even with a quick glance at the group's lineup:

Dennis Schunke (Sly) – lead vocals

Inga Scharf – higher lead vocals

Stefan Schmidt – lower rakkatakka vocals, wahwah solo guitar vocals

Ross Thompson – higher rakkatakka vocals

Ingo Sterzinger (Ike) – lowest dandan vocals

Bastian Emig - drums

Five singers and a drummer, for the first and only Acapella metal band in the world. You are probably laughing right now, thinking alternately of "Neri per Caso" or the "Worthless Peons," Ted Buckland’s band in Scrubs. And yet it's true, and there is no joking intention: we have two "normal" singers, respectively for the male and female parts, two tasked with imitating guitars, a funny individual who replicates the bass, and a drummer (according to the band, they initially intended to find a "vocal drummer" too, but due to the sad insufficiency of human lungs, they opted for the real instrument). One must admit that, listening to "Hero," the band's second work, the natural reaction for anyone is a loud laugh: I myself, already familiar with the band's first work, couldn't help but smile during some passages. However, after drying my tears, I came to realize that these guys have talent: just consider that, although the CD is inexplicably full of covers, the ones that truly baffle and intrigue are the original songs, strong in their personality and epic lyrics, as well as an immediacy that makes them stick in your mind at the first listen. Just think of "Speed of Light," which offers beautiful melodies enriched by the continuous alternation of male and female parts that almost duet, or the epic "Quest for Roar," or the powerful "Take to The Sky." In all this, however, they do not fall short, as they preserve the spirit of the originals, and more than successful covers like the flashy "Kings of Metal" or the fun renditions of "Wishmaster" by Nightwish and "The Bard's Song" by Blind Guardian. Fear of the Dark and Stormbringer, as already anticipated, turn out a bit excessive, albeit enjoyable, risking giving the impression of merely being a cover band.

What I can say is that Van Canto deserve a listen, if only out of curiosity; I know well that many will consider them mere clowns, and others, in full Manowar style, will label them as desecrators of TrVe metal... Consider, however, that these so-called clowns not only went to play at Wacken and the Magic Circle, but also, thanks to their comedic aspect and the courage to try something truly new, they are outshining hundreds of your "real bands."

Say what you want, insult me with all your heart, but in my opinion, Van Canto deserve respect.