proudly presents:
Visionary futuristics
With exquisite influences from the areas of ambient, fusion, pop and contemporary music, these men of taste enrich their multi-faceted PROGRESSIVE METAL sound since their start in 2009.
Meanwhile, the Italian-born, Milanese team of sophisticated spirits has set up its creative headquarters in Switzerland.
https://www.virtualsymmetry.com/
LINE-UP:
Marco Pastorino (vocals)
Valerio Æsir Villa (guitars)
Alessandro Poppale (bass)
Mark Bravi (keyboards)
Davide 'Didi' Perpignano (drums)
Singer Marco Pastorino and his bandmates focus mainly on romantic melodies, surreal atmospheres and chasing rhythms. The futuristically accentuated mixture of the quintet gets rounded off by suggestive backgrounds in the emphasized harmonious soundframe. With a correspondingly high level of imagination, an imaginative journey through time and space is possible.
Guitarist and band founder Valerio Æsir Villa is not only a multi-instrumentalist, he also works out the ideas for the songwriting of VIRTUAL SYMMETRY. This way of proceeding was already proven for the 2016 debut album "Message From Eternity".
VIRTUAL SYMMETRY tied up as next with the rich EP "X-Gate Suite". This 2017 EP is also dominated by all the characteristic contrasting elements that make up the epic face of the completely thought-out songs, which partly take longer time.
With her wonderfully sensitive, seamlessly integrated vocals, Diane Lee, who sings mainly in the Swiss act Lost Journey, ensures highly moody, dreamy moments on it.
With skillfully sharpened, but far-reaching, cinematic mood-sheets, the passionate Italian visionaries paint their tracks also on the new release "XLive Premiere".
Cover Artwork: Gustavo Sazes
Official release of "XLive Premiere": November 10th, 2018.
•
TRACKS:
Disc 1 (CD)
1. Darkened Space 03:07 (instrumental)
2. Program Error (We Are The Virus) 10:54
3. Soul's Reflections 06:55
4. Pegasus 11:26
5. You'll Never Fall Again 09:26
6. Silent Sweetness 03:55
total: 45:43 min.
Disc 2 (CD)
1. Eyes Of Salvation 11:15
2. Alchymera 14:31
3. Elevate 09:40
4. Message From Eternity 25:24
total: 61:50 min.
•
The songs were professionally recorded on March 31, 2018 at an enormously atmospheric concert of the formation in the southern Swiss Temus Club.
The represented tracks are characterized by a well weighted balance between melody and technique, with particular attention to conclusiveness. The visitors were able to experience an exciting journey between varied dynamics and touching emotions.
VIRTUAL SYMMETRY cite on "XLive Premiere" world-famous giants such as Dream Theater, Fates Warning, and Evanescence with the same independent devotion and love, as the band also pay homage to the respected work of exceptional musicians like Joe Satriani and Steve Vai.
The fact that despite the extensive musical range and the complex arrangements everything ultimately sounds like a single cast is the merit of the huge joy of the five-piece in liquid structures, finest details and accessible homogeneity. (Markus Eck)
Discography:
2014: Program Error (We Are The Virus) (single)
2016: Message From Eternity (full-length)
2017: X-Gate Suite (EP)
2018: XLive Premiere (full-length)
MEDIA FEEDBACK ►► X-Gate Suite - EP ◄◄
Discography:
2014: Program Error (We Are The Virus) (single)
2016: Message From Eternity (full-length)
2017: X-Gate Suite (EP)
2018: XLive Premiere (full-length)
MEDIA FEEDBACK ►► X-Gate Suite - EP ◄◄
TRACKS:
01. Eyes Of Salvation 07:49
02. Alchymera 14:20
03. Elevate 10:14
total: 32:23 min.
5 / 5
"Fans of Dream Theater and Seventh Wonder can rub their hands; 'X-Gate' fully confirms the enormous potential of this band, which has now jumped among my favorites of all time."
(All Around Metal)
19 / 20
"… a pearl …"
(Chronique Metal)
"… a pearl …"
(Chronique Metal)
9 / 10
"… half hour of well-felt, well-written and undoubtedly well-sounding music."
(Giornale Metal)
"… half hour of well-felt, well-written and undoubtedly well-sounding music."
(Giornale Metal)
9 / 10
"It’s astonishing that VIRTUAL SYMMETRY is not more well-known, but 'X-Gate' may mark a rising star in the arena of Progressive Metal and Rock."
(Metal Utopia)
"It’s astonishing that VIRTUAL SYMMETRY is not more well-known, but 'X-Gate' may mark a rising star in the arena of Progressive Metal and Rock."
(Metal Utopia)
9 / 10
"Fantastic EP, definitely one for any Dream Theater fan to check out."
(Powerplay)
"Fantastic EP, definitely one for any Dream Theater fan to check out."
(Powerplay)
9 / 10
"… it’s appeal is infectious and will have fans of Hard Rock, Classic Rock and Progressive Rock salivating at the mouth. If you have never heard of VIRTUAL SYMMETRY, you have now … their new E.P. is gonna bring the band to a whole new audience and a new level of popularity."
(Metalgods TV)
"… it’s appeal is infectious and will have fans of Hard Rock, Classic Rock and Progressive Rock salivating at the mouth. If you have never heard of VIRTUAL SYMMETRY, you have now … their new E.P. is gonna bring the band to a whole new audience and a new level of popularity."
(Metalgods TV)
8,8 / 10
"Another beautiful band from Italy … listen without any restraint!"
(Metal Samsara)
"Another beautiful band from Italy … listen without any restraint!"
(Metal Samsara)
8,5 / 10
"The excellent writing of guitarist Valerio "Æsir" Villa, bassist Alessandro Poppale ("Alchymera") and keyboardist Mark Bravi ("Elevate", together with Villa) allows the three songs to flow in natural perfection …"
(SpazioRock)
"The excellent writing of guitarist Valerio "Æsir" Villa, bassist Alessandro Poppale ("Alchymera") and keyboardist Mark Bravi ("Elevate", together with Villa) allows the three songs to flow in natural perfection …"
(SpazioRock)
8,5 / 10
"… dramatic, epic and melancholic, emphasized by the warm voice of the nineteen-year-old Diane Lee … 'X-Gate' is a must-have for lovers of Fates Warning, Royal Hunt or Queensrÿche … and for those who want to immerse themselves in an articulated and enveloping sound pattern."
(Through The Black Hole)
"… dramatic, epic and melancholic, emphasized by the warm voice of the nineteen-year-old Diane Lee … 'X-Gate' is a must-have for lovers of Fates Warning, Royal Hunt or Queensrÿche … and for those who want to immerse themselves in an articulated and enveloping sound pattern."
(Through The Black Hole)
8,5 / 10
"… an EP where they give a real class of Prog Metal, presenting songs with great melodies, epic mood and lots of technique (and not sounding boring, that is to say). If you're a fan of that style, you need to meet these Italians."
(Musica Continua A Mesma)
"… an EP where they give a real class of Prog Metal, presenting songs with great melodies, epic mood and lots of technique (and not sounding boring, that is to say). If you're a fan of that style, you need to meet these Italians."
(Musica Continua A Mesma)
8,5 / 10
"The sound combines the melodies of Dream Theater with the progressive audacity of Devin Townsend's project …"
(World Of Metal)
"The sound combines the melodies of Dream Theater with the progressive audacity of Devin Townsend's project …"
(World Of Metal)
8,2 / 10
"… captures, kidnaps, hypnotizes as in the best progressive tradition … remarkable work …"
(In Your Eyes)
"… captures, kidnaps, hypnotizes as in the best progressive tradition … remarkable work …"
(In Your Eyes)
80 / 100
"… a little gem inside the Progressive Metal underground scene in Italy … Dream Theater is therefore the main inspirational muse … a journey through intricate melodic and instrumental passages …"
(Antonio Moliterni)
"… a little gem inside the Progressive Metal underground scene in Italy … Dream Theater is therefore the main inspirational muse … a journey through intricate melodic and instrumental passages …"
(Antonio Moliterni)
80 / 100
"An exceptional rhythm section supports the hard riffs (we've heard a lot of Symphony X apparently) … we've written so much for a 'simple' EP, but here's so much to hear and listen to."
(Loud And Proud)
"An exceptional rhythm section supports the hard riffs (we've heard a lot of Symphony X apparently) … we've written so much for a 'simple' EP, but here's so much to hear and listen to."
(Loud And Proud)
8 / 10
"… a solid mixture of Progressive Metal, Steve Vai, and Power Metal …"
(Apochs)
"… a solid mixture of Progressive Metal, Steve Vai, and Power Metal …"
(Apochs)
78 / 100
"… great goal of VIRTUAL SYMMETRY … certainly, the originality of groups like Dream Theater, Masterplan or Persephone gets underpinned."
(Insane Voices Labirynth)
"… great goal of VIRTUAL SYMMETRY … certainly, the originality of groups like Dream Theater, Masterplan or Persephone gets underpinned."
(Insane Voices Labirynth)
70 / 100
"… variety … modernity … close to the style of Fates Warning and Haken, trying to find new and unexplored directions … showing good musical scores coincided with a good use of voice by Pastorino."
(Hardsounds.it)
"… variety … modernity … close to the style of Fates Warning and Haken, trying to find new and unexplored directions … showing good musical scores coincided with a good use of voice by Pastorino."
(Hardsounds.it)
7 / 10
"'X-Gate' is an altogether really exciting and surprisingly varied EP, on which the Italian quintet proves its technical skill and guitarist Valerio Æsir Villa his songwriting arts. Happily, the good production also brings out all the appropriate. That's how 'X-Gate' sounds pleasantly multi-layered, punchy and atmospheric, and makes it easy to sweep the listener along."
(Der Hörspiegel)
"'X-Gate' is an altogether really exciting and surprisingly varied EP, on which the Italian quintet proves its technical skill and guitarist Valerio Æsir Villa his songwriting arts. Happily, the good production also brings out all the appropriate. That's how 'X-Gate' sounds pleasantly multi-layered, punchy and atmospheric, and makes it easy to sweep the listener along."
(Der Hörspiegel)
7 / 10
"The strength of the EP is definitely the musicianship and complexity … a good listen."
(Metal Temple)
"The strength of the EP is definitely the musicianship and complexity … a good listen."
(Metal Temple)
3,5 / 5
"… promises a lot for the future of VIRTUAL SYMMETRY, these musicians are extremely talented and good at that they do. The music is incredibly cinematic as well, I like that they tried to add so many influences and turned that into their own sound."
(Lyrical Spell)
"… promises a lot for the future of VIRTUAL SYMMETRY, these musicians are extremely talented and good at that they do. The music is incredibly cinematic as well, I like that they tried to add so many influences and turned that into their own sound."
(Lyrical Spell)
"This is high quality Progressive Metal that does not sound stale, trendy or cheesy. Complex, independent, sophisticated and of high-grade!"
(Crossfire Metal)
(Crossfire Metal)
"… it shows depth, merging the technical complexity of Fates Warning, the surreal atmosphere of Dream Theater, the emotion of Evanescence, the mystery of Queensrÿche and the theatrical cleverness of Rush."
(Dave Wolff - Autoeroticasphyxium Zine)
(Dave Wolff - Autoeroticasphyxium Zine)
"… features a perfect blend between aggression and kindness, heavyness and melody, so a everything Metal is all about. And there goes 'X-Gate', sometimes more prog than heavy, sometimes more heavy than prog, but always daring and satisfying."
(Metal Addicts)
(Metal Addicts)
"Leaning in technology, science-fiction, and philosophy for the words, the music takes the Dream Theater/Fates Warning template and adds in pop, electronic, and fusion aspects to make for an engaging journey overall."
(Dead Rhetoric)
(Dead Rhetoric)
"VIRTUAL SYMMETRY is a richly intriguing and tempting proposition from the outskirts of the Progressive Metal landscape but a prospect increasingly coming to the fore with each offering they make …"
(The Ringmaster Review)
(The Ringmaster Review)
"… it is impossible not to mention Dream Theater, with which the band has shared the stage, as well as being honored to host Jordan Rudess in the debut demo. But here we are not talking about a 'copy' because ours have cared for the teachings to propose a personal message."
(Metal In Italy)
(Metal In Italy)
"… you think of Symphony X and Ayreon, and of both pioneers of their genre you can find stylistic devices on "X-Gate" ... of Symphony X it is the classical references, of Ayreon in addition to various vocal characters and the spacy radio play sequences ... many riffing elements are inspired of the lively style by John Petrucci ... all the more supportive, as they organized all without a label like Inside Out or Mascot."
(Legacy)
(Legacy)
"Overall, an exquisite and elegant journey through an aural delight of the symphonic, operatic and cinematic styles of Rock music."
(Frenzy Fire)
(Frenzy Fire)
"… impressive creations … beautiful sounds … a great job …"
(Sangwitok)
(Sangwitok)
etc.
