Past and future unite – review of Symphonity’s EP “Beyond Olympus”

Symphonity, a solid melodic power metal band from Brno, are back on the scene with “Beyond Olympus”, an EP that marks a new stage in the band’s career. The current line-up features David Åkesson on vocals, Libor Křivák on guitar, Tomáš Sklenář on bass and the return of long-time drummer Martin “Marthus” Škaroupka. This comeback is not only technical but also symbolic: a sort of artistic reunion capable of giving renewed impetus to the project.

After three studio albums and an official live album, the band has now chosen to release an EP that alternates a new unreleased track with live recordings made in April 2025 at Gagarin 205 in Athens during their last European tour. “Beyond Olympus”, to be released on December 5, 2025, by Limb Music, is a compact but significant work, conceived as a bridge between the past and the future.

The main new feature, and also the only studio track, is the opener “Out And About,” a six-minute composition that moves between neoclassicism, refined melodies, and prog elements. The song flows smoothly, is well constructed, and showcases the band’s unique qualities: virtuoso but never redundant guitars, polished arrangements, and an immediate chorus. The lyrics, dedicated to the fans, recount the band’s life on tour, including the challenges, growth, and everyday life often shared by many musicians in the industry.

From a sound perspective, the production is of the highest standard: the studio track is mixed by Simone Mularoni, now a guarantee in the power and prog metal scene, while the live recordings are entrusted to the expert hand of Libor Křivák. The entire EP is then mastered by Mularoni himself, ensuring a powerful, clean, and perfectly balanced sound.

The remaining five tracks – “Evening Star,” “In The Name Of God,” “The Gates Of Fantasy,” “Dreaming Of Home,” and “Give Me Your Helping Hand” – capture the band’s impact on stage. The live performance highlights not only the band’s technical ability, but also an emotional involvement that shines through in every passage. The energy returned by the audience, the precision of the band, and the return of Marthus behind the drums give the tracks an intense and celebratory atmosphere. This is not your usual live selection thrown together: the quality is high, the sound is defined, and the mix allows you to appreciate every nuance without sacrificing the natural spontaneity of the “field.”

“Beyond Olympus” works on two levels: on the one hand, it offers a concrete taste of Symphonity‘s future with the unreleased “Out And About,” and on the other, it celebrates their recent history with a live selection that conveys charisma, technique, and passion. It is an EP that effectively fills the void between albums, but also has its own autonomous artistic identity.

The only risk? Being a relatively short work, it inevitably leaves you wanting to hear more new material. But if a good start bodes well, this appetizer promises great things to come.

Tracklist:

1.  Out And About
2. Evening Star (Live)
3. In The Name Of God (Live)
4. The Gates Of Fantasy (Live)
5. Dreaming Of Home (Live)
6. Give Me Your Helping Hand (Live)