Track By Tracks: PARRIS HYDE - Unlock Your Freedom (2022)

Unlock your freedom" is the second album by the Italian band Parris Hyde and confirms the good things already shown in the past with some pleasant news. The technical level of the musicians is excellent and so too the voice of Parris switches between various timbres, to give greater variety to the individual songs. The songs become more peculiar and structured, always keeping the melody clearly in evidence: A sort of intelligent Metal both in musical and lyrical contents, with references to both modern and classic and with veiled references to Hard Rock. Out of any predefined scheme or cliché, the band has no intention of comparing itself to anyone else, as in the way of writing there is no intentional reference either to groups or to a specific musical genre, which cannot be cataloged except in the broadest sense of "Metal"

1. INCIPIT / 2- ROCK IS DEAD (LONG LIVE METAL):

A short Intro with Gregorian choirs announces the death of Rock and connects directly to the first real song: if Rock is dead, long live Metal! Based on a typically Power Metal track, Parris Hyde, with his usual irony, lashes out against mainstream Rock, as well as criticizes the dull attitude of some longtime metalheads. A song that, even from the title, is much more original than the usual clichés contained in the songs praising Metal

3. I LOVED YOU, I KILLED YOU:

The first single and video for this song The theme of femicide, always dear to Parris Hyde, this time join the severe criticism of Islamic culture.

The song develops on the coordinates of a modern Metal, with an irresistible refrain, as well as a strong impact has the obsessively repeated interlude: "Decapitate those who wanna decapitate us"

4. HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS:

After two powerful tracks, finally a little breath, with a hard rock song with airy melodies, which narrates the joy of returning home, after having been around the world for too long.

5. SECRET LOVER, CRUEL MURDER:

Another song about femicide: after killing his wife in the previous album (I killed my wife with a knife) now Parris also lashes out at her lover !!! The song partly recalls Thrash Metal and that is characterized by devastating drumming and the participation of the guitar virtuoso Luca Ballabio with a solo of great taste.

6. THE HEAD UNDEAD:

Song dedicated to the Band's mascot, Misery, a mysterious woman, who appears here in Parris' nightmares. Horror track characterized by a disturbing piano melody and a powerful central section with organ and falsetto voices.

7. THE LION OF KABUL:

Song with Middle Eastern melodies that fits perfectly with the theme of the song: the true story of Marjan, the lion of the Kabul Zoo, a metaphor for the Afghan people who over the years have seen the succession of Soviet, Taliban, and American dominions. The central instrumental part is interesting and, in this as in other pieces, replaces the classic guitar solo.

8. WE BELONG TO THE SEA:

Something more than a simple ballad for this song that talks about the theme of distance. Enchanting melodies and a song that starts slowly and develops in an emotional crescendo

9. THE WAY:

Parris Hyde's ideological manifesto, steeped in Taoism and Eastern philosophy. A delicate beginning of voice and piano turns into an aggressive and fast power metal song.

10. REQUIEM (FOR THE FALLEN STARS):

Perhaps the most original track on the album. A song, deliberately repetitive and in a major key to instead accompany a sad "Requiem" in honor of all the heroes of Metal, who died prematurely. Here the true idols of Parris Hyde are mentioned, not the usual rock stars commemorated on the news.

“We are all dying, from the first breath until we meet death”!

11. UNLOCK YOUR FREEDOM:

The song that gives the title to the album and which should be the most full of meanings, is actually just an instrumental song, which combines Metal and symphonic parts.

The title is however thought of as a form of rebellion against what was the Lockdown, imposed indiscriminately during the Covid-19 pandemic.

BONUS TRACKS:

12. HARD TO FIND:

Track with a typically American Hard Rock style and for this reason added to the album only as a Bonus Track.

13. SANTA WEARS NO MASK (Metal remix):

Metal version of the song that the band had presented in 2020 as a Christmas single: due to the pandemic, the elves are desperate because Santa Claus intends to deliver gifts without wearing a mask.

14. MORS TUA VITA MEA (Video version):

Song characterized by symphonic choirs and classical instruments, which accompanied the music video of the same name and which sees the band protagonist in facing an invasion of Zombies. Something different from the usual video clip, because here the band is not promoting their own song, but the music is only the background to a sort of “short movie”, focused on Zombies.