{"id":16584,"date":"2025-12-17T08:48:17","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T13:48:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/heavensmetalmagazine.com\/?p=16584"},"modified":"2025-12-17T08:48:18","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T13:48:18","slug":"review-worldview-invincible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/heavensmetalmagazine.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/17\/review-worldview-invincible\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Worldview – Invincible"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Much Anticipated-View<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Invincible<\/em> may very well be one of the most anticipated releases of 2025, let alone the past decade. Since the release of the iconic The Chosen Few<\/em> in 2015, there has been much speculation and hype about how Worldview would release a follow up worthy of the debut\u2019s greatness. Enter Invincible<\/em>\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Invariably, any great artist (group of artists) will get the itch to \u201ckeep a good thing going.\u201d And once the creative minds start gelling ideas, greatness is born. George Ochoa (guitars\/producer), Todd Libby (bass) and Rey Parra (vocals), Crystal Mancaruso (vocals) and new drummer Terry Russell (Holy Soldier) put together and recorded 10 new songs, this time around with the help of Dino Elefante. While every listener will decide for themselves, the sound has changed in a way most (but not all) will find appealing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commercial Surprise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

First off, you know that an album which features Ochoa working with Elefante (i.e. last year\u2019s Human Code – Break the Silence<\/a><\/em>) is going to have a certain pristine and amped up production sound. Check. When you add Bill Metoyer to the mix \u2026 well, the speakers speak for themselves. Check. But you also know that marriage to Elefante comes with a hint of more \u201ccommercial\u201d leanings, songs with more melodic appeal, a few more ballads here and there, maybe? Check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consequently, my greatest surprise in hearing this music for the first time was that there were more of the slower, ballad-like songs than I expected. Human Code focused on the melodic rock side of Ochoa\u2019s persona, which was great. I confess I was expecting a full-on heavy metal onslaught with progressive leanings. For a ballad I fully expected \u201cHauntingly Beautiful,\u201d but I did not expect \u201cWho\u2019s to Say\u201d and \u201cBlindsided.\u201d But, hey, I got blindsided and who\u2019s to say, right? Still good music, for sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Vinyl-View<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Side A<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Wolves<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Nevertheless, there is much greatness here. The opening track \u201cBeware the Wolves<\/strong>\u201d is just one such example. The amalgam of Led Zep, Red Sea and Deep Purple is a much-praised reference to \u201870\u2019s metal with a tinge of Sacred Warrior shred. Not only is this the perfect opening \u201cstatement\u201d track, but it may also just be the best song on the album, tons of drum, keyboard and guitar nuances throughout. This song exhibits all of the qualities and stylistic characteristics which nicely distinguish this new release from The Chosen Few<\/em> \u2026 in a good, complimentary way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soldier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, the title track keeps the \u201cprogressive\u201d pedal to the metal. In the spirit of Kamelot meets Queensryche, \u201cInvincible<\/strong>\u201d throws down the gauntlet and raises the bar for progressive metal while simultaneously harkening back to so many of those great songs from The Chosen Few<\/em>. New to the milieu, however, is Crystal Mancaruso\u2019s powerful voice, which perfectly complements Parra\u2019s soaring roar. Perfect in every way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n