MOONLIGHT HAZE – Kintsugi (Official Video)

New Single From Animus

Moonlight Haze return with Kintsugi, the fourth single and official video drawn from the album Animus, released in March via Scarlet Records. The track arrives as another statement of intent from the Italian symphonic power metal unit, refining the blend of speed, melody and orchestral color that has defined their recent output. It is a concise showcase for the band’s strengths, distilling their cinematic approach into a song that is both immediate and layered.

The Meaning Behind Kintsugi

The title references the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer and precious metals, a practice that embraces fractures as part of an object’s history rather than concealing them. As a metaphor, it is a natural fit for symphonic power metal’s fascination with resilience and transcendence. Lyrically, Kintsugi leans into this idea, framing wounds and setbacks as seams of strength. Rather than wallowing in loss, the perspective is forward-facing, honoring the imperfect and celebrating renewal. The theme resonates with the broader spirit suggested by the album title Animus, an exploration of drive, will and inner fire.

Sound Design and Arrangements

The arrangement unfurls with the clarity of a band that knows exactly where each part should sit. Keyboards introduce a luminous harmonic bed, not just as ornament, but as a structural element that threads through the song’s core. Orchestral swells and choral layers complement the guitars without overwhelming them, a balance that keeps the track swift and heavy while maintaining its grandeur.

In classic European power metal fashion, the rhythm section propels the music with brisk double-kick patterns and precise bass movement, making room for rhythmic accents and dynamic pauses that highlight the vocal line. The symphonic textures are woven with care, shifting between cinematic pads and articulated string figures that carve out counter-melodies. The effect is panoramic, yet disciplined, with a modern mix that gives every instrument room to breathe.

Vocal Presence and Melody

At the center is Chiara Tricarico, whose lead vocal carries the song’s emotional throughline. Her phrasing favors clarity and lift, riding the tempo with ease while finding space for expressive turns and carefully placed vibrato. The chorus is shaped for impact, built around a melodic contour that rises cleanly and resolves with satisfying inevitability. Layered harmonies and selective choral backing shore up the hooks without tipping into excess, allowing the lyrics’ message of repaired beauty to land with directness.

Guitars, Rhythm and Momentum

Guitars provide the backbone. Marco Falanga and Alberto Melinato lock into twin harmonies that echo the symphonic motifs, delivering riffs that aim for propulsion rather than blunt force. Lead lines are lyrical and economical, with quick bursts of virtuosity folded into the song’s architecture rather than standing apart from it. On the low end, Alessandro Jacobi tracks the kick with tight articulation, adding melodic shadows in the pre-chorus passages that deepen the harmonic movement.

Giulio Capone drives the tempo with clean, articulate drumming, focused on consistent double-bass figures, sharp cymbal work and snare accents that cue transitions. His additional role on keyboards helps glue the track together, ensuring the percussive energy and the symphonic layers feel like parts of a single engine. The result is a brisk, confidently paced song that never loses its shape even as it pushes for uplift.

The Official Video

The video for Kintsugi is directed by Marco Falanga and Beatrice Demori for Oround, and was filmed on location at Filanda di Carpacco in Udine. The choice of setting gives the piece a tangible sense of place, matching the song’s themes with an environment marked by texture and history. The direction favors clarity and atmosphere, capturing the band’s performance with an eye for pacing and contrast. Rather than overloading the frame, the visuals allow the music’s dynamics to dictate movement and focus, reinforcing the song’s idea that fracture and restoration can coexist.

Position Within the Album

As the fourth single from Animus, Kintsugi functions as a thematic keystone. Where earlier tracks from the record emphasize velocity, drama and expansive choruses, this song binds those elements to a narrative about endurance and self-repair. It broadens the album’s palette by leaning into nuanced dynamics, foregrounding orchestral interplay, and emphasizing lyrical intention. For listeners mapping the arc of Animus, it underscores Moonlight Haze’s commitment to melody-first songwriting within a high-energy framework, affirming the band’s position in the contemporary symphonic power metal landscape.

Production Touchstones

The production approach is crisp and contemporary, favoring transparency over sheer density. Guitars are tight and present, lows are controlled to prevent mud during the fastest passages, and the keyboards are layered to complement rather than crowd the mix. The vocal sits slightly forward, as it should for a track built around a central narrative, while the drums maintain definition at speed. Subtle spatial effects add dimension without smearing articulation, keeping the track vivid on both headphones and larger systems.

Band Lineup

Chiara Tricarico – vocals
Marco Falanga – guitar
Alberto Melinato – guitar
Alessandro Jacobi – bass
Giulio Capone – drums and keyboards

Video Credits

Directors: Marco Falanga and Beatrice Demori for Oround
Location: Filanda di Carpacco, Udine
Special thanks: Pauli Nauli

Final Thoughts

Kintsugi distills Moonlight Haze’s appeal into four tightly focused minutes: a resolute message, melodies that soar without strain, and arrangements that marry orchestral sweep to rhythmic precision. It is a persuasive chapter in the Animus cycle, one that ties aesthetic choices to lyrical purpose and shows a band confident in the contours of its own sound.