Whyzdom - Symphony For A Hopeless God (2015)

Whyzdom is a female fronted symphonic metal from France. Their power house is Marie Rouyer. The band is doing full scale power metal with orchestration in a style of good ol' days of Nightwish. A thick layer of guitar riffs is what put this band more in line with Epica instead. Symphony For A Hopeless God is their 3rd studio album, where the previous two already reserved some promising position in the heart of symphonic metal fans.

All songs are polished with catchy orchestrations, brasses and strings are swirling freely to accompanying the main attacking voices, the guitar distortion. In the background the double pedal drums continuously put heavy beats into the storms. The songs are no different to standard bombastic power metal. The first tune we got is "While The Witches Burn", lengthy Latin inspired choruses and cathedral bell is our first impressions. Catchy guitar riffs blends in, and we got the symphonic metal in its full seriousness. Marie Rouyer implemented a soft 'gothic' style singing in duet with the male vocals. But indeed, this is not their main style. The majority of the song incorporated straight forward, standard heavy metal style of singing, as heard in "Let's Play With Fire" , one of their very melodic song that I found very strong. "Asylum Of Eden" is having trace of Nightwish's latest Imaginaerum influences. The song composition itself have many serious highlight, such as just when the album exhausting into the end, we got "Theory Of Life" that really brings the album into the climaxing end. This left the last song "Pandora's Tears" acted as the closing credit, very similar to the last movie score in the end of its show.

This album have more bombastic power metal orchestration than what you may think. Almost endless of brass attack in every song. The highlight is Marie as the center of attention. Her voices ranged from soft gothic style to heavy operatic voices. Musically, the power metal elevated a lot from the guitar distortion, which trying to have more room when surrounded by the strings and brasses. Symphony For A Hopeless God is heavy, also melodic. Expected lots of high time listening to this. Whyzdom is the new force to listen, ready to sneak in between the other 'veterans' alike of Within Tempation, Epica, and Nightwish.

Metal Harem class : ********* eight stars out of ten

Buy it Here - Amazon

Whyzdom - Symphony For A Hopeless God (2015) 

1. While The Witches Burn
2. Tears Of A Hopeless God
3. Let's Play With Fire
4. Eve's Last Daughter
5. Don't Try To Blind Me
6. The Mask
7. Asylum Of Eden
8. Waking Up The Titans
9. Theory Of Life
10. Where Are The Angels
11. Pandora's Tears

Marie Rouyer - Vocals
Vynce Leff - Guitar, Orchestrations
Nico Chaumeaux - Drums
Regis Morin - Guitar
Xavier Corrrientes - Bass
Marc Ruhlmann - Keyboard
Record Label: Scarlet Records

Xandria - Sacrificium (2014)

While most of female fronted symphonic metal bands are well remembered by their singer, Xandria are not. During their productions, the Germany band already rolled four singers. If you love their previous recording, Neverworld's End, where in that album the singer produced a Tarjarian era of sound, in this new album "Sacrificium", the operatic voices are bit of scale down. Indeed, Xandria once again need to build up their sounds with new singer, this time it fall unto Dianne Van Giersbergen's shoulder. In her resume is a Master degree in classical singing, specialized in aria, formerly sing in the band Ex Libris and so on. The most significant changes on Sacrificium is the band does not laid their music on the template of Oceanborn or Century Child anymore, both respectively Nightwish's album of course. Instead the band try hard to redefined their original sounds. This time the sounds moves on to general symphonic metal in the vibes of Epica. Coincidentally, Sacrificium is face to face challenge to Epica's The Quantum Enigma both released this month,  similar case happened two years ago.

The album immediately starts with "Sacrificium", a ten minutes operatic metal composition. It is full of dramatic song with lots of choir layer, orchestration and stormy drumming. Soon it is confirmed that Dianne's voice, although not as operatic as Manuella (their previous singer), is flawlessly fit into the style. By this song, the band literally moves on from Nightwish to Epica, if you need an analogy. Move on to "Nightfall", the arrangement of choirs as intro is their best formula. Nightfall build up their song writing from calm verses to bombastic choruses. "Dreamkeeper" as usual is the album's third track that usually serves as contrasting point. The vibes slow gothic-ian tempo is utilized in this song. Benefit of Dianne's flexible voice to switch into 'classic gothic' style made the changes easily flows from their heavy mode to ballad mode. This song invited us to their fourth track, "Stardust", which is a minor power metal feel song. My favorite track actually. "The Undiscovered Land" is slowest track, a moving ballad. "Little Red Relish" contained some folk metal ala Sabaton. In this song we can examined closer to Dianne voices. The same folk elements also found in "Temple of Hate". The album close with a sweet violin and piano ballads, "Sweet Atonement".

I've mentioned that the album pretty close to what Epica's doing, but there are major differences. First, the female voices are exclusive in Xandria, meaning no other growling duet. Good news if you are old time power metal fans that did not enjoy modern crossbreeding. The other difference can be that Xandria played more traditional power metal, that closer to folk metal, rather than Epica's sounds which is progressive in nature. So indeed, they are quite two different bands in the core. Beside the singer, we also informed that bassist Steven Wussow is the new kid in the line up. The rest are members from the past. Sacrificium offered a large different set of music when compared to Neverworld's End. In this case the band build up more original sounds, fully supported by capable singer on board. A well composed symphonic metal album.

Metal Harem class: ********* nine stars out of ten

Buy it Here - Amazon

Xandria - Sacrificium (2014)

CD1:
01. Sacrificium
02. Nightfall
03. Dreamkeeper
04. Stardust
05. The Undiscovered Land
06. Betrayer
07. Until The End
08. Come With Me
09. Little Red Relish
10. Our Neverworld
11. Temple Of Hate
12. Sweet Atonement

CD2:
01. The Watcher (Bonus Track)
plus all instrumental version

Dianne Van Giersbergen – Vocals
Marco Heubaum – Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
Philip Restemeier – Guitar
Steven Wussow – Bass
Gerit Lamm – Drums
Record Label: Napalm Records

Epica - The Quantum Enigma (2014)

Only two years from their previous Requiem for the Indifferent, Epica is back with their sixth studio album, The Quantum Enigma. It's definitely a time they spend well, because The Quantum Enigma is just mind blowing, a massive comeback from Epica. Considered the front line female symphonic / gothic metal in the world, they are ready for a new symphonic metal landmark. If Requeim for .... already seems like the top of the world, The Quantum.. is the tall tree on the peak.

As with other Epica's works, songs are serious in nature. This transpose into long and intense instrumentation, complex choirs layers. I would like to recommends some highlights of the album. The prelude instrumental is worth the time to listen.  It is just like the sky drum being orchestrated and their sounds surround the Earth to marked the beginning of the creation. Originem is not your cliche overture for sure. It is part of the album respectively. The Second Stone is best described just like the beginning of the life. Where every waves are still without directions, as the drums brutally mimic this situation. The Essence Of Silence on contrary is just their inverse situation. The song gives the feeling that there is a strong order challenging what happened in the first song. This song is having the best riffs on the album. Let's jump to the other highlight, Unchain Utopia is for melodic and minimalist song. Simone Simons is still on her supreme control , playing the rule of soloist of this metal choir. The album break into the second phase, The Fifth Guardian - Interluding these two phases. Enjoy that pentatonic oriental scale in this instrumental track. Then we repeat the loop again with Chemical Insomnia, only the loop got heavier of course. Even so,  ballad are found here. Canvas Of Life is a melodic ballad with sweet piano and guitar rendition.

It is the combination of Simone Simons, unparalleled choirs, masculine growling vocals and stormy symphonic metal instrumentation, that all make this album once again shinning over this genre. The behind story is, the band take full pause of stage performance. This to made Simone available on her maturity duties, giving birth etc. Meaning the band took this opportunity to fully concentrate to write. The Quantum Enigma really re-energized Epica. The band was almost slipped out of the mainstream when they begin to elaborate more technical stuffs, such as in their past album. Fans of Epica should rejoice, as well new fans looking for a solid female voicing symphonic metal.

Favorite tracks: Originem, The Essence Of Silence, Unchain Utopia, Canvas of Life

Metal Harem: ********* nine stars out of ten

Buy it Here - Amazon

Epica - The Quantum Enigma (2014) 

Digital Limited Edition:
01. Originem
02. The Second Stone
03. The Essence Of Silence
04. Victims Of Contingency
05. Sense Without Sanity - The Impervious Code -
06. Unchain Utopia
07. The Fifth Guardian - Interlude -
08. Chemical Insomnia
09. Reverence - Living In The Heart -
10. Omen - The Ghoulish Malady -
11. Canvas Of Life
12. Natural Corruption
13. The Quantum Enigma - Kingdom Of Heaven Part II
14. Banish Your Illusion (Bonus Track)

CD 2: (Acoustic CD)
01. Canvas Of Life
02. In All Conscience
03. Dreamscape
04. Natural Corruption

Simone Simons – Lead Vocals
Mark Jansen – Rhythm Guitar, Vocals (growls)
Isaac Delahaye – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
Coen Janssen – keyboards
Rob Van Der Loo – Bass
Arien Van Wessenbeek – Drums, Voices

Delain - The Human Contradiction (2014)

Dutch front gothic metaller, Delain is on their fourth studio album called The Human Contradiction. As with their previous albums, such as the most recent We Are the Others, the new album sticks close to their existing style. Heavy guitar distortion layer, combined with savvy synthesizer beat effects. On top of that, singer Charlotte Wessels is still the dominating factor in listening Delain.

Charlotte Wessels starts the album with her solos intro in Here Come the Vultures. The song kind of sad and mysterious in mood, something like bring us back to the '60s thriller movie soundtrack. On the second song is their heaviest track featuring Marco Hietala. Your Body Is A Battleground, is catchy song with full orchestra and choruses supports. It got a nice grrove as well. Guitar solos are there, but instead of giving speed light shredding, the solos play a long sustain notes with melody line integrated into the song. On classic piano ballad in gothic metal mood is Tell Me, Mechanist, featuring George Oosthoek. Sing To Me, is also another interesting song, dynamic singing line, symphonic metal, low string power chord and Marco Hietala harsh voices. They did not forget to also play a synthesizer dance beat elements, as found in Army of Dolls. For a total string and piano number is on the ballad Scarlet. Alissa White-Gluz from Agonist contributed her death metal voices in song of The Tragedy of the Commons.

The Human Contradiction also comes with another full disc of bonuses, a Live versions and orchestra version of their previous songs. On the album, the Human Contradiction is yet another wonderful stuffs of gothic metal / rock. It is the time now where Delain should stand equal to Within Temptation and Epica, all from the motherland of Netherland. In fact, where as those two bands are now heading for a new ventures, Delain is still in their original path where they just beginning to peak in quality. Charlotte Wessels has a great balance voices, wide range and flexibility. Beside the two opening cuts, Here Come the Vultures and Your Body Is A Battleground, I recommend Sing To Me and The Tragedy of the Commons as most favorite tracks of the album.

Metal Harem class: ******** eight stars out of ten

Delain - The Human Contradiction (2014) 
Buy it Here - Amazon

01. Here Come the Vultures
02. Your Body Is a Battleground (featuring Marco Hietala)
03. Stardust
04. My Masquerade
05. Tell Me, Mechanist (featuring George Oosthoek)
06. Sing To Me (featuring Marco Hietala)
07. Army of Dolls
08. Lullaby
09. The Tragedy of the Commons (featuring Alissa White-Gluz)
10. Scarlet
11. Don't Let Go
12. My Masquerade (Live)
13. April Rain (Live)
14. Go Away (Live)
15. Sever (Live)
16. Stay Forever (Live)
17. Sing To Me (Orchestra version)
18. Your Body Is A Battleground (Orchestra version)

Charlotte Wessels (vocals)
Martijn Westerholt (keys)
Otto Schimmelpenninck van der Oije (bass)
Sander Zoer (drums)
Timo Somers (guitar)

Dawn Of Destiny - F.E.A.R. (2014)

Dawn of Destiny seized my attention on their 2012 release called Praying To The World. That album marked in the database as heavy, full of double pedal power metal album altogether wrapped with excellent female voices. Two years has passes, the band from Germany brings us their fifth studio album. Titled as Forgotten. Enslaved. Admired. Released or stylized as F. E. A. R. This album somehow comes as a bit of surprisingly different continuation to their previous sounds.

F.E.A.R. begins with And with Silence Comes the Fear, compared to Praying.... where everything seems begins with a bang, And with Silence Comes the Fear is a bit slowdown of tempo. The band took enough time to build up their song writing. The song's formula still around intrigue guitar riffs with combination of all three types of voices, female, male and death harsh voices. The song seemingly back to the gothic metal territory. Waiting for a Sign is very much rely on Jeanette Scherff's high pitch sopranic voices. Lots of odd tempo variation on this one. And it looks like this new album is the band's brand new playground for their creativity. Takes a listen to Innocence Killed, which is dark ballad type song, pretty much stays in the style of hard rock, pay attention to the highlighted bass line in the choruses. Another strong cuts is No Hope for the Healing. On this track, guest vocalist contributed to bring this ballad song to the epic level. Rising Angel, is finally fast song with enough drumming berserk in it. Finally , is the blast song with that fly-feel of Lydian scale a lot. The album extremely switch into different style of music since this point. Prayers and Then I Found You is well connected song with gospelic triumphant feeling.

Then there is nine minutes song of One Last Time, which brings back the album into darker feeling. Pretty awesome track indeed. The album closes with another two songs,  Dying in Your Arms is stormy blasting track while To Live Is to Suffer is yet another emotionally mellow tunes.

This album is the band's turning point. Instead of doing generally known fast power metal tunes, the band gives true effort to raise their song writing into something deeper meaning. F.E.A.R. is completely a level up in their game. The album is heavy in contrast point between on track to another, unexpected twist. Musicianship are equally shared, from the singers to all fours instrumentalist. Fans of Dawn Of Destiny, enjoy the latest journey in F.E.A.R.

Metal Harem class: ********* eight stars out of ten

Dawn Of Destiny - F.E.A.R. (2014)
Buy it Here - Amazon

01. And with Silence Comes the Fear 05:37
02. Waiting for a Sign 03:22
03. My Memories 04:28
04. Innocence Killed 05:36
05. End This Nightmare 03:50
06. No Hope for the Healing 06:18
07. Rising Angel 04:32
08. Finally 04:34
09. Prayers 03:58
10. Then I Found You 04:13
11. One Last Time 09:57
12. Dying in Your Arms 03:40
13. To Live Is to Suffer 03:49

Line Up:
Jeanette Scherff - Vocals
Veith Offenbächer - Guitars
Jens Faber - Bass & Backing Vocals
Dirk Raczkiewicz - Keyboards
Julio Pablo Da Silva - Drums

Guest Musicians:
Mats Levén - Vocals (Candlemass,ex-Adagio, ex-At Vance, ex-Fatal Force, ex-Yngwie J. Malmsteen, ex-Firewind (live), ex-Therion (live))
Jon Oliva - Vocals (Jon Oliva's Pain, Oliva, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Savatage, ex-Doctor Butcher) on track 6

Within Temptation - Hydra (2014)

Hydra is WT's sixth studio album. The first sensation we'll notice is the appearances of several singers, the likely and the unlikely. The invitation for Tarja is a likely situation where in ten years ago, both Sharon den Adel and Tarja rules the world of female symphonic metal without much challenge. The song they are in, Paradise (What About Us?) did come with a vibe of Tarja's style, especially in her latest solo album. Epic song with thick orchestration that brings Within Temptation's earlier styles, although they never fully go back to the era of The Silent Force.

The other likely collaboration is with ex Killswitch Engage frontman, Howard Jones. The song Dangerous hits it hard with heavy symphonic metal feel. Howard Jones immediate reply on the second verses fit the heaviness of the song. Though he did not applied metalcore singing instead a clean voices. Guitar riffs are catchy with the beat, there is interesting hard rock snare drum sounds as the choice of fills in, which added more cleverness into this song. Within Temptation also try their sounds with leading alternative rock singer, Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum. The song Whole World Is Watching quickly switch into pop metal territory. Surprisingly again, they are both mixed well with Dave Pirner seems the contrasting elements in the song. And We Run, is the last collaboration, the unlikely one with rapper Xzibit. Though it is predictable for Within Temptation to try reach out into uncharted area. The song did pretty much in Within Temptation sounds, Xzibit only 'fills' in the bridge and a solos rap. Believe me it is a good experiments.

As for the rest of Hydra stuffs. they are closer back to their earlier heavy sounds. Not much repeating the last conceptual The Unforgiving experiments. Let Us Burn sounds pretty close to the Silent Force era. Edge of the World sounds familiar, it is Sharon's best cut to blow us away in this ballad song. Silver Moonlight is also heavy tracks with added harsh vocal in the background. Covered By Roses is nice cross over between hard rock blues song writing but wrapped in symphonic metal.

Very solid album. Within Temptation shows us that the band keep evolving into the right direction. Composition wise we got the best. The four featuring songs all represented WT abilities to write whatever they want to write. The best news is the album bring back a lot of their earlier sounds, which is simply bombastic symphonic metal.

Metal Harem class: ********* eight stars out of ten

Within Temptation - Hydra (2014)
Buy it Here - Amazon

01. Let Us Burn
02. Dangerous (feat. Howard Jones, Killswitch Engage)
03. And We Run (feat. Xzibit)
04. Paradise (What About Us?) (feat. Tarja)
05. Edge Of The World
06. Silver Moonlight
07. Covered By Roses
08. Dog Days
09. Tell Me Why
10. Whole World Is Watching (feat. Dave Pirner, Soul Asylum)

Sharon den Adel - vocals
Robert Westerholt - guitar
Ruud Jolie - guitar
Stefan Helleblad - guitar
Jeroen Van Veen - bass
Martijn Spierenburg - keyboards
Mike Coolen - drums

Within Temptation Hydra album review

Leaves' Eyes - Symphonies of the Night (2013)

We never sort of operatic metal album featuring strong female vocalist, one of them is Leaves' Eyes. Liv Kristine is their main force and attraction. They known mostly as symphonic metal with strong folk elements, casually bring in native language words as song title, Lovelorn, Meredead, Siglirn, Njord, and other Middle-Earth slangs. Their music therefore distinguished by nature to met the lyrical theme. Symphonies of the Night is their fifth studio album. While the folk metal still existed in this album, and it's also lean into general operatic female voice - growl vocal to adhered the current trend.

The first example come quickly, Hell to the Heavens is actually catching ear song when Liv Kristine enter the verses, especially with that Nightwish-style riff, but then when the growling pop out the originality of the song is compromised. Of course the folk metal is still around, Maid of Lorraine, Galswintha are top choice to enjoy this imaginative genre of metal, especially Galswintha which is inspiring New-Age-ish - galloping - gothic metal tunes. The album title song comes in strong as well, the sentence Symphony of the Night used well as the chorus highlight. Saint Cecelia is kind of mourn elegy tunes. Angel and the Ghost bring in different character of song, again if the growling part trimmed I wouldn't mind. Éléonore de Provence is also interesting and fast double drumming track.

Most of the time, when the harsh growling vocal comes as duet with female voice, it's still ok, but when he sings alone it just sounds like other millions band without much uniqueness. The instrumentation works are excellent here, just expected from Leaves' Eyes. This album is simply Liv Kristine being the vocal point and other supporting instrumentalist did not try to steal with mind blowing solos. A combination of Power Metal, Gothic, Symphonic and Folks make Leaves' Eyes a difficult band to copy. A nice album to have.

Metal Harem class: ******** eight stars out of ten

Leaves' Eyes - Symphonies of the Night (2013)
Buy it HERE - AMAZON

01. Hell to the Heavens 4:32
02. Fading Earth 4:33
03. Maid of Lorraine 5:13
04. Galswintha 4:15
05. Symphony of the Night 4:59
06. Saint Cecelia 4:13
07. Hymn to the Lone Sands 5:23
08. Angel and the Ghost 3:37
09. Éléonore de Provence 6:25
10. Nightshade 3:42
11. Ophelia 4:24

Liv Kristine - Vocals
Alexander Krull - Vocals
Thorsten Bauer - Guitars
Sander Van Der Meer - Guitars
Felix Born – Drums

Leave's Eyes - Symphonies of the Night album review

Sirenia - Perils Of The Deep Blue 2013

Norwegian cum Spaniard Symphonic Gothic act is what Sirenia stands for. Historically, the band was born as a rival project of ejected Morten Veland from another gothic band, Tristania. Five albums they are in, with the release like The 13th Floor impressed me a lot. In this new 2013 album, Perils of the Deep Blue, Sirenia comes with deeper Symphonic metal and their gothic elements are still pure as blue ocean. A good standing position, to not followed other gothic band turns heavy or progressive trend lately.

The sign of serious symphonic stuff can be derived from their 3 minutes long instrumental intro Ducere Me in Lucem that lengthy in atmospheric chanting and howling. Then Seven Widows Weep is bombastic first opener, full scale in choirs and buzzing guitar distortion. As in many death metal wannabe, the first vocal we met is Morten Veland himself in harsh growling voice. The female singer is by Ailyn Garcia, not in the same room of operatic voices ala Tarja, but Ailyn sing in higher clean voice territory. The effect of her voice is good to fit into mermaids and ocean blue theme, kind of atmosphere and new age feel. She again sing perfectly in My Destiny Coming to Pass, a gothic metal best formula of having bombastic music but the singing is slow and charming. Alas, Ditt Endelikt is something awkward with a vocal do less justice to its music, which is a nice one. Luckily that is the only 'clean male voices' track on the album, we back on the track of symphonic attack in Cold Caress. For a notice, Perils Of The Deep Blue come with little to none guitar solos, Morten put more energy to invent catchy keyboard arrangements, one of the good sample is in Decadence. More serious composition comes in Stille Kom Døden, where Ailyn's sing in slow motion mode for over 12 minutes long. The escalation of mourning come to climax in The Funeral March. Profound Scars is angry and fast track, now with a bit of guitar works along with a popular flute voices. The other lengthy guitar solos only found in the later track, A Blizzard Is Coming.

Surely a theatrical synthesizer cover up can never replaced a guitar solo. Listening to over seventy minutes of choirs and orchestration, as good as it is, hardly can avoid to fall into boredom borderline. So, Sirenia need to hire additional shredder to lighten up situation, I beg. The other thing, the popular yin yang attack, female vs (death metal) male voices is not as tight as in other similar band. I feel Morten Veland's harsh vocal is not the best part I enjoy. Ailyn's innocence voice is enough, so left her alone is also my pledge. As for the bombastic symphonic part, this is where Sirenia able to capture attention in almost every song's opening. When Morten's ex-friends in the Tristan camp trying to further away from their Symphonic root, he leads friends in Siren camp to venture further in this overpower Symphonic attack. Perils Of The Deep Blue is best energy drink for your sleepy summer days.

Metal Harem class: ******* seven stars out of ten

Sirenia — Perils Of The Deep Blue 2013
Buy it Here at Amazon

1. Ducere Me in Lucem
2. Seven Widows Weep
3. My Destiny Coming to Pass
4. Ditt Endelikt
5. Cold Caress
6. Darkling
7. Decadence
8. Stille Kom Døden
9. The Funeral March
10. Profound Scars
11. A Blizzard is Storming
Bonustracks
12. Chains
13. Blue Colleen

Morten Veland — Vocals (harsh, clean), Guitars, Bass, Drums, Keyboards, Programming
Jonathan A. Perez — Drums
Pilar "Ailyn" Giménez García — Vocals
Jan Erik Soltvedt — Guitars

Produced- Morten Veland
Mastering and Mixing- Endre Kirkesola
Cover Artwork- Anne Stokes
Label: Nuclear Blast Records

Sirenia Perils of the Deep Blue album review

Tristania - Darkest White 2013

This septet from Norway is best known for their earlier works such as Beyond the Veil and World of Glass. We then see the band undergo member changes and then leaving their gothic metal roots, pretty much going to wider audiences, radio friendly road. On their latest work is Darkest White, out in 2013. This album continue the later Tristania sounds, but styles are blur than ever.

Number is tight black metal tunes with shrieking vocal takes the opening lead, to be followed is the female soprano voice thus making this a trademark three voices Tristania setup. Little by little, Tristanis dismissed their eclectic approach, when mixing gothic, death / black growling and symphony metal in their earlier works. This song Number is no more symphonic but toward black metal with extra operatic female voices, in lieu to gothic as main style. Darkest White is interesting darker tune, the riff sounds raw and hardly can imagine this is a band that need a female singer in it. Himmelfall is another mid tempo but groovy song. The song writing is good and the lower voices singing just fit it, finally with Mariangela joining in the chorus just added the extra multiple climaxes. Requiem saw them sing in normal composition, plain and just depend on their song writing. A good 'normal' song that give the female singer the main spotlight, after three tracks passed away. Some other songs in the rest of album alternating between going gothic, Diagnosis, Cathedral, and going experimental with black metal, alternative, to even stoner feel such as in Lavender. The final song Arteries bring back the heavy and fast tempo to close this album with enough bang.

It is hard to see this album as one single styles. It is also something redundant now to think Tristania as female fronted band, with pretty members actually. The male vocals takes the majority of the materials in Darkest White. To make thing more complicated, Tristania's guitarist, miss Gyri Losnegaard added more feminine to the band image. Darkest White did better than what happening in Rubicon, but again different from what we know in Beyond the Veil era. This is practically a new music direction and I feel Tristania at pretty wide crossroad, whether to be in extreme metal or stay in gothic or even move to alternative metal path. For now, Darkest White offer interesting line up materials with variety of styles. If you looking for uncompromising different types of gothic-death-doom-alternative metal, this could be your destined recording.

Metal Harem class: ****** seven stars out of ten

Tristania - Darkest White 2013
Buy it HERE at Amazon

1. Number
2. Darkest White
3. Himmelfall
4. Requiem
5. Diagnosis
6. Scarling
7. Night On Earth
8. Cathedral
9. Lavender
10. Cypher
11. Arteries

Mariangela Demurtas - Vocals
Kjetil Nordhus - Vocals
Anders Høyvik Hidle – Guitar / Vocals
Ole Vistnes – Bass / Backing Vocals
Gyri Losnegaard - Guitar
Einar Moen - Keyboards
Tarald Lie Jr. - Drums
Record Label: Napalm Records

Tristania Darkest White album review

Dark Tranquility - Construct (2013)

Not really a Dark Tranquility listener here, but I found the album a good one with a blend of doom-ish feel into good death metal vocals. Construct is the new Dark Tranquility album, bringing this as the band's album number ten. They are called as Gothenburg metal also but quite versatile in doing the music it's between thin line to defined. For Broken Words is a nice opener, bringing us to darker mood for today. Works of instrumentation to company the vocals are done in creative ways. This is better in the second song, The Science of Noise, now comes with 'faster' beat. The running riffs can keep the interest alive and put curiosity to what happen in the next song's sections. Uniformity is more complex. The background piano motives and vocal's style changing make this a good gothic-doom-death metal tracks. The Silence in Between also has a good Paradise Lost feel intro. Not a bad song to call this the hit of the album.  Aphathetic finally comes with strong riffs and fastest drum works. Endtime Hearts is interesting tracks with slighly bits of industrial sounds. The album ended with overlong instrumentation None Becoming, that close the chapter with dark mood.

Best cuts for me are The Science of Noise and The Silence in Between. Love the guitar overdrive / distortion sounds that versatile bringing the doom feel. Singer pulled his growl and clean voices with good shape. Atmospheric background string layered provided by keyboardist Martin Brändström also gives Dark Tranquility their unique sounds. Enjoyable album with a smooth blend in between doom and death metal style.

Metal Harem class: ******** eight stars out of ten

Dark Tranquility - Construct (2013)
Buy it Here at Amazon

1. "For Broken Words" 4:34
2. "The Science of Noise" 3:50
3. "Uniformity" 5:31
4. "The Silence in Between" 3:32
5. "Apathetic" 3:29
6. "What Only You Know" 4:01
7. "Endtime Hearts" 3:59
8. "State of Trust" 4:06
9. "Weight of the End" 4:56
10. "None Becoming" 4:31

 US bonus tracks
11. "Immemorial" 5:06
12. "Photon Dreams" 2:04

Personnel
Mikael Stanne – vocals
Martin Henriksson – bass guitar, rhythm guitar
Niklas Sundin – lead guitar, album artwork
Anders Jivarp – drums
Martin Brändström – keyboards

Dark Tranquility Construct album review

My Dying Bride - The Manuscript EP 2013

UK Doom metal throws in several songs for us in their latest EP. My Dying Bride is more than welcome to present several new, or unused ideas, in this new EP called The Manuscript. The songs are not much deviated from last year released A Map of Our Failures.

First song of The Manuscript is strong. This song is a nice introduction to the genre altogether. Doom singing is perfect, all instrumentals do their best, due to the slow pace of the song, the instruments are needed to fill in the space correctly. And that exactly what make the genre interesting. Guitar melody keep playing, the drum fills are note to note in our ear, and the addition of violin fill is just clear. Vår Gud Över Er or translated Our God Over Your (Sweden), comes with contrast. Aaron rendered this song with harsh death metal vocal. Duo guitars guided the song with melodies, making this yet another enjoyable doom metal song. A Pale Shroud Of Longing is like want to bring you to the lowest point in your life. The extended instrumentation in the beginning  from guitar's melody, violin theme, acoustic guitars are all enjoyable. Only Tears To Replace Her With starts with narration, oh wait are they inspired by our dearest Metallica's Lulu? Perhaps the least interesting song on this four tracker, but then the song is focus on lyrics and make some sense to continue.

The Manuscript is good. Strong songs , well three songs, is enough to bring back several life to the band. Fans will accept this without pressures, it's all relax listening and the songs are damn acceptable. If My Dying Bride just keep writing music as these ones, they surely will continue their claw over the genre. Little EP need to keep for Doom / Gothic fans.

Metal Harem class: ******** eight stars out of ten

My Dying Bride - The Manuscript EP 2013
buy it HERE

01. The Manuscript
02. Vår Gud Över Er
03. A Pale Shroud Of Longing
04. Only Tears To Replace Her With

Line-up
Aaron Stainthorpe - vocals
Shaun MacGowan - keyboards, violin
Andrew Craighan - guitars
Hamish Hamilton Glencross - guitars
Lena Abé - bass

My Dying Bride the Manuscript album review



R.I.P. Jeff Hanemann 

List of 2013 METAL Live - Compilation - Cover Albums

There are so many fucking live albums from our favorite metal band in 2013. Then they are so many damn cover album as well, for a sake of god lastly, the compilation album goes mad as well. So, I just going to listed them out instead of full review (well, except for Iron Maiden's Maiden England) because they were from big names and it will be awkward to not mentioned their album on my blog ;)

List of 2013 Metal Live albums - Cover and Compilations

Deep Purple - The Official Deep Purple (Overseas) Live Series: Paris 1975 [Live]
28 January 2013 BUY

Disc I
01. Burn
02. Stormbringer
03. The Gypsy
04. Lady Double Dealer
05. Mistreated
06. Smoke On the Water
07. You Fool No One

Disc II
01. Space Truckin'
02. Going Down
03. Highway Star
04. 1975 Interview With Coverdale, Hughes & Paice

Neal Morse - Live Momentum [Live]
18 February 2013 BUY

Disc I [DVD]
01. Momentum
02. Weathering Sky
03. Author Of Confusion
04. The Distance To The Sun
05. Testimony Suite (Sleeping Jesus, Prince Of The Power Of The Air, The Promise, Wasted Life)
06. Thoughts Part 5
07. The Conflict
+ and about five discs more

Adrenaline Mob - Covertá [EP]
12 March 2013 BUY

01. High Wire [Badlands cover]
02. Stand Up And Shout [Dio cover]
03. Break On Through [The Doors cover]
04. Romeo Delight [Van Halen cover]
05. Barracuda [Heart cover]
06. Kill The King [Rainbow cover]
07. The Lemon Song [Led Zeppelin cover]
08. The Mob Rules [Black Sabbath cover]

Gamma Ray - Master Of Confusion [Live - Cover]
15 March 2013 BUY

[A side]
01. Empire Of The Undead
02. Master Of Confusion

[B side]
03. Death Or Glory [Holocaust cover] [studio cover version]
04. Lost Angels [Sweet cover] [studio cover version]

[C side] [Live in Bochum]
05. The Spirit
06. Wings Of Destiny
07. Gamma Ray
08. Farewell
09. Time To Break Free
10. Insurrection

Anthrax - Anthems [Cover]
19 March 2013 BUY

01. Anthem [Rush cover]
02. Jailbreak [Thin Lizzy cover]
03. TNT [AC/DC cover]
04. Smokin' [Boston cover]
05. Big Eyes [Cheap Trick cover]
06. Keep On Runnin [Journey cover]
07. Crawl
08. Crawl [special remix version]

Axel Rudi Pell - Live On Fire [LIVE]
22 March 2013 BUY

Disc I [Live At The Essigfabrik, Cologne, Germany, October 18th, 2012]
01. The Guillotine Suite (Intro)
02. Ghost in the Black
03. Strong as a Rock
04. Before I Die
05. The Masquerade Ball / Casbah / Dreaming Dead / Whole Lotta Love / Dreaming Dead
06. Drum Solo
07. Mystica / Mistreated / Mystica
08. Oceans of Time
09. Circle of the Oath
10. Fool Fool
11. Keyboard Solo / Carousel / Jam / Carousel
12. Tear Down the Walls / Nasty Reputation
13. Rock The Natiom

Disc II [Live At The Rock Of Ages Festival, July 28th, 2012]
01. The Guilolotine Suite (Intro)
02. Ghost in the Black
03. Strong as a Rock
04. Before I Die
05. Masquerade Ball / Casbah / Dreaming Dead / Whole Lotta Love / Dreaming Dead
06. Drum Solo
07. Mystica / Mistreated / Mystica
08. Oceans of Time
09. Circle of the Oath
10. Tear Down the Walls / Nasty Reputation
11. Rock the Nation

[Bonus]
+ Interview With Axel Rudi Pell
+ Homestory - Axel Rudi Pell
+ Hallelujah [video]

Sebastian Bach - ABachalypse Now [Live]
26 March 2013 BUY

Disc I [DVD]
01. Live at Hellfest, France
02. Live at Nokia, Los Angeles
03. Live at Graspop, Belgium
04. Bonus Music Videos: "Kicking & Screaming", "TunnelVision", "I'm Alive"

Disc II [Live at Hellfest, France — June 16, 2012]
01. Slave To The Grind
02. Kicking & Screaming
03. Here I Am
04. Big Guns
05. Piece of Me
06. 18 & Life
07. American Metalhead
08. Monkey Business
09. I Remember You
10. Youth Gone Wild
+ and two more discs

Mystic Prophecy - Best Of Prophecy Years [Compilation]
12 April 2013 BUY

01. Ravenlord
02. Hollow
03. Eyes Of The Devil
04. We Kill, You Die
05. To The Devil I Pray
06. Across The Gates Of Hell
07. Demons Blood
08. Dark Forces
09. Satanic Curses
10. Evil Empires
11. Savage Souls
12. Master Of Sins

Iced Earth - Live In Ancient Kourion [Live]
15 April 2013 BUY at AMAZON

Disc I
01. Intro
02. Dystopia
03. Burning Times
04. Angel's Holocaust
05. Slave To The Dark
06. V
07. When The Night Falls
08. I Died For You
09. Invasion
10. Motivation Of Man
11. Setian Massacre
12. Stormrider
13. Pure Evil
14. Wolf
15. Dark City
16. Dracula
17. Ten Thousand Strong

Disc II
01. Anthem
02. Declaration Day
03. Days Of Rage
04. Melancholy
05. Encore Intro
06. In Sacred Flames
07. Boiling Point
08. Damien
09. Watching Over Me
10. Dante's Inferno
11. Iced Earth
12. The Hunter

Freedom Call - Ages Of Light [Compilation]
29 April 2013 - BUY

Disc I [Ages Of Light]
01. We Are One
02. Tears Falling
03. Freedom Call
04. Farewell
05. Metal Invasion [live]
06. Warriors
07. Land Of Light
08. Hunting High And Low
09. Mr. Evil
10. Far Away
11. Blackened Sun
12. Thunder God
13. Tears Of Babylon
14. A Perfect Day [live]
15. Hero On Video
16. Power & Glory
17. Rockstars
18. Back Into The Land Of Light

[disc II: Masqueraded]
19. Metal Invasion [folk metal version]
20. Mr. Evil [melodic reggae version]
21. Hero On Video [speed ska version]
22. Rockin' Radio [killerbilly version]
23. Freedom Call [camp fire strumming version]
24. Age Of The Phoenix [power swing version]

Jorn - Symphonic [Compilation]
25 January 2013  BUY

This is a re-arranged Jorn's songs into an orchestra setting.

01. I Came To Rock
02. Rock And Roll Children [Dio cover]
03. The World I See
04. Burn Your Flame
05. Man Of The Dark
06. My Road
07. Time To Be King [Masterplan cover]
08. Black Morning
09. Like Stone In Water
10. Vision Eyes
11. War Of The World
12. Behind The Clown
13. A Thousand Cuts
14. The Mob Rules [Black Sabbath cover]

Delain - Interlude [Compilation]
1 May 2013 - BUY 

[disc 1]
01. Breathe On Me
02. Collars And Suits
03. Are You Done With Me [new single mix version]
04. Such A Shame
05. Cordell
06. Smalltown Boy
07. We Are The Others [new ballad version]
08. Mother Machine [live]
09. Get The Devil Out Of Me [live]
10. Milk And Honey [live]
11. Invidia [live]
12. Electricity [live]
13. Not Enough [live]

[Disc 2: Bonus DVD]
14. Invidia [Live @ Metal Female Voices Fest]
15. Electricity [Live @ Metal Female Voices Fest]
16. We Are The Others [Live @ Metal Female Voices Fest]
17. Milk and Honey [Live @ Metal Female Voices Fest]
18. Not Enough [Live @ Metal Female Voices Fest]
19. Backstage Footage
20. Get The Devil Out Of Me [video]
21. We Are The Others [video]
22. April Rain[video]
23. Frozen [video]

Rhapsody Of Fire - Live - From Chaos To Eternity [Live]
3 May 2013  BUY

Disc I
01. Dark Mystic Vision
02. Ad Infinitum
03. From Chaos To Eternity
04. Triumph Or Agony
05. I Belong To The Stars
06. The Dark Secret
07. Unholy Warcry
08. Lost In Cold Dreams
09. Land Of Immortals
10. Aeons Of Raging Darkness
11. Dark Reign Of Fire
12. Drum Solo

Disc II
01. The March Of The Swordmaster
02. Dawn Of Victory
03. Toccata On Bass
04. The Village Of Dwarves
05. The Magic Of The Wizard's Dream
06. Holy Thunderforce
07. Reign Of Terror
08. Knightrider Of Doom
09. Epicus Furor
10. Emerald Sword
11. Erian's Lost Secrets
12. The Splendour Of Angels' Glory (A Final Revelation)

Within Temptation - The Q-Music Sessions [Cover]
19 April 2013

01. Grenade [Bruno Mars cover]
02. Titanium [David Guetta ft. Sia cover]
03. Let Her Go [Passenger cover]
04. Summertime Sadness [Lana Del Rey cover]
05. Radioactive [Imagine Dragons cover]
06. Crazy [Gnarls Barkley cover]
07. Dirty Dancer [Enrique Iglesias cover]
08. Don't You Worry Child [Swedish House Mafia cover]
09. Behind Blue Eyes [The Who cover]
10. The Power Of Love [Frankie Goes To Hollywood cover]
11. Apologize [One Republic cover]

Judas Priest - Epitaph [DVD LIVE]
June 2013 - BUY IT HERE

01 Battle Hymn/Rapid Fire
02 Metal Gods
03 Heading Out to the Highway
04 Judas Rising
05 Starbreaker
06 Victim of Changes
07 Never Satisfied
08 Diamonds and Rust
09 Prophecy
10 Night Crawler
11 Turbo Lover
12 Beyond the Realms of Death
13 The Sentinel
14 Blood Red Skies
15 The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Pronged Crown)
16 Breaking the Law
17 Painkiller
18 The Hellion/Electric Eye
19 Hell Bent for Leather
20 You’ve Got Another Thing Coming
21 Living After Midnight

Firewind - Apotheosis LIVE 2012 [LIVE]
Buy It Here

01. Head Up High
02. Wall Of Sound
03. Allegiance
04. Few Against Many
05. The Departure
06. Heading For The Dawn
07. Losing My Mind
08. World On Fire
09. Guitar Solo 2012
10. SKG
11. Between Heaven And Hell
12. Piano Solo
13. Edge Of A Dream
14. Mercenary Man
15. Glorious
16. Maniac
17. Falling To Pieces
18. Cold As Ice (Bonus)
19. Tyranny (Bonus)

Amberian Dawn - Re-Evolution 2013 [Compilation]
Buy It HERE - AMAZON

A compilation with new singer re-take of the band's selection of songs.

01. Valkyries
02. Incubus
03. Kokko - Eagle Of Fire
04. Lily Of The Moon
05. Come Now Follow
06. Crimson Flower
07. Circus Black
08. Lost Soul
09. Cold Kiss
10. River Of Tuoni
11. Charnel's Ball

Whitesnake Made In Britain 2013 [LIVE]
Buy it HERE   - Made In Japan

CD 1- Made In Britain:
01.Best Years
02.Give Me All Your Love
03.Love Ain´t No Stranger
04.Is This Love
05.Steal Your Heart Away
06.Forevermore
07.Love Will Set You Free
08.My Evil Ways
09.Fare Thee Well
10. Ain´t No Love In The Heart Of The City
11. Fool For Your Loving
12. Here I Go Again
13. Still Of The Night

CD 2 – The World Record:
01.Bad Boys
02.Slide It ln
03.Lay Down Your Love
04.Pistols At Dawn
05.Snake Dance
06.Can You Hear The Wind Blow
07.Fare Thee Well
08.One Of These Days
09.The Badger
10.Deeper The Love
11.Soldier Of Fortune
12.Burn/Stormbringer

NEXT LIVE 2013 ALBUM:
The bands planned to released Live Album are:

Dream Theater - Live At Luna Park [DVD Live]
Rush - Clockwork Angels Live [DVD Live]
Metallica - Metallica Through the Never [DVD Live]
Guns 'N Roses - Appetite for Democracy [DVD Live]
Alestorm - Live At The End of The World [DVD Live]
Stormwarrior - If It's Not In Your Bloode... You Will Never Understande! [DVD]

Visions of Atlantis - Ethera 2013

Once emerged as Nightwish inspired band, Visions of Atlantis is middle Europe answered to their northern neighbor in the battle of female fronted metal band. VoA also unique among others for that the band did not left one front-woman dominated the entire career, for they already rolled three singers in just five studio albums. This lead to different characters of their sounds, the late Nicole Bogner was a soprano operatic close to Tarja era, the current Maxi Niil is cleaner voices in gothic metal style while former American Melissa Ferlaak is in between. Their first debut Eternal Endless Infinity was a Nightwish tribute, but they slowly developed their style, peak in Trinity, saw them as one of few early band that utilized double singers in symphonic metal act. But then upon listening VoA latest album to date, Ethera, it's most likely we shall see another power metal band step into free world of 'female fronted metal' leaving most of their power and symphonic stuffs behind.

Now, first song The Ark. This is a clear chances on their opening act, without double pedal or bombastic orchestration. The Ark passed away as a simple synthesizer rich melodic metal act. Thing lift up heavier in the second track Machinage. This is a good song that memorable from the start of the verse, especially the good lyric writing fit the melody well. Avatara also a well written song, very rich in keyboard composition with all the synth voices connecting the gap between the singers, guitar distortion and a mandolin. Vicious Circle is a thick bass layered ballad song, with Mario Plank and Maxi takes turn to conquered the art of human voices. Hypnotized is another hit song, mostly once again thanks to the creative keyboard effect and now followed with good drum phrases in the opening. Tlaloc's Grace starts with a vocal duet, then developed into rather groove beat, and for a second, heaviest track in the album. Burden Of Divinity is also an interesting song with lot of twist in this only three minutes song. Give acoustic guitar a chance to shine in Cave Behind The Waterfall. I can't ignore the rest of the song since AEON 19th again prove interesting enough to extended the listening session. More Maxi Niil + string arrangements in Bestiality vs Integrity. And finally Clerics Emotion in the last position, and they left the most close to power metal song here.

Unlucky for symphonic metal fans, Ethera is not Visions of Atlantis in their earlier years. Instead this is a rather rich melodic metal album. The album dominated heavily with keyboards creativity. Also the drum's parts, although there are no speed and galloping beat here, the drum is another rich element in the album. Guitars part unfortunately only stay in behind as accompaniment, and even further the solos are just there without the over shred parts. Ethera might grow slow in the first listening, but the effort the band puts in each song will win you later. Still a very interesting work from Visions of Atlantis.

Metal Harem class: ******** eight stars out of ten

Vision of Atlantis Ethera 
buy it here at Amazon

01. The Ark
02. Machinage
03. Avatara
04. Vicious Circle
05. Hypnotized
06. Tlaloc’s Grace
07. Burden Of Divinity
08. Cave Behind The Waterfall
09. AEON 19th
10. Bestiality vs. Integrity
11. Clerics Emotion
12. Tlaloc’s Grace – Orchestra Version (Bonus Track)

Cris Tían, guitars
Mario Plank, vocals;
Martin Harb, keyboards;
Maxi Nil, vocals
Roland Navratil, drums

Visions of Atlantis Ethera 2013 album review

Amaranthe - The Nexus 2013

Elize Ryd fame is now quite known for her worked with Dragonland (Under the Grey Banner album), Kamelot (Silverthorn) even as Nightwish's one night singer in replacing Olzen when she was sick. These events surely rise curiosity on her actual band, called Amaranthe. This is a six pieces band playing music something like a combination of Within Temptation, Lacuna Coil and metalcore harsh growl. That is, their formation bring in as many as three singers to executed their unique combination of clean vocals (female and male) and harsh growling. The Nexus is their second studio album, after their debut in 2006.

On the track by track hearing, the production is top notch. Implementation of multiple layers singing is supported with awesome composition, usually powered with good keyboard programming rhythm. Making this a fresh and rich bombastic trio vocals group. All beginning four tracks Afterlife, Invincible, The Nexus and Theory of Everything, flow with great pace and the song seems connected without a lost in momentum. The other variation on their bombastic core-gothic-modern metal song, is a mellow tempo Burn With Me. If you afraid on Amaranthe absence of guitar solos, then this is not your case. Olof Morck the guitarist put in a few spin of guitar solos to make Amaranthe a legitimate metal album into everybody's collection. Check also Razorblade with a good aggresive singing by Elize. But, be sure not to shock with a No Doubt / Lady Gaga near disco beat song in Electroheart. The album closed with two acoustic songs version that can diverse completely the mood.

Not a bad album at all from Elize and her companions. The Nexus smartly approach the market of metalcore, gothic metal and modern metal audiences. The trio singing is prove a powerful setup. Leaving little room to find lacking elements, only that some song gone too simple and scream for extra song development. If Amaranthe can quickly grow their own sounds, leaving influences of their other female fronted band, it is of a great future they are.

Metal Harem class: ******** eight stars out of ten

Amaranthe - The Nexus 2013

buy it here at Amazon

1. Afterlife 03:14
2. Invincible 03:11
3. The Nexus 03:16
4. Theory of Everything 03:34
5. Stardust 03:08
6. Burn With Me 04:00
7. Mechanical Illusion 04:01
8. Razorblade 03:05
9. Future On Hold 03:17
10. Electroheart 03:48
11. Transhuman 03:55
12. Infinity 03:05
13. Hunger (Remix and Acoustic version iTunes Bonus track) 03:17
14. Burn With Me (acoustic)

Olof Mörck Guitars, Keyboards
Morten Løwe Sørensen Drums
Jake E Berg Vocals (clean)
Elize Ryd Vocals (female)
Andy Solveström Vocals (harsh)
Johan Andreassen Bass

Amaranthe The Nexus album review

Nightfall Cassiopeia 2013

If you haven’t meet a Gothic Metal band that able to upfront their “metal” part more than anything to its “gothic” counterpart, you need to listen to Nightfall. They kind of melodic blending into dark, doomish gothic growling. They are Greek compatriot, long established since 1991 by founding member Efthimis Karadimas . With that long history, Nightfall crossed fate with several Greek talents such as Bob Katsionis as we known in Firewind today. As you can see from my writing, I am not familiar with the band and therefore rely my review on this sole album only.  For our 2013 late new year gift, Nightfall released Cassiopeia. Notes to this release also included the addition of guitarist Constantine into their line up, Constantine is current guitarist for Mystic Prophecy as well.

In the opener called Phaethon, we quickly introduced to a straightforward and minimalist gothic licks that leading us into a sudden changes of key for the opening verse. For the following song that almost identical twin as Phaethon is Oberon and Titania. The band also put in front Oberon and Titania as their representative showcase track of Cassiopeia. It is a riff leading song, with enough groove to let the melody stay in your mind for a while. The same receipt repeated in other tracks, notable is The Reptile Gods, and Hyperion which all based their opening to the thematic riff. We also get the power metal’s minor and galloping tempo in Stellar Parallax and Hubris. The other approach is the classic Gothic melodic lick as the leading tune, practised in The Nightwatch and Akhenaton, the 8th Pharaoh of the 18 Dynasty. That’s true Cassiopeia rich in mythological references as their lyrical theme, suitable to the music very much.

In the microphone duty is vocalist Efthimis Karadimas, our fifty minutes long companion that comes with a  low and dark doom-ish voice. The whole album demonstrated a solid chemistry between the duo guitarist Evan Hensley and Constantine, both take turn in converting minimalist licks into powerful harmony. That’s to say, the overall listening experience from Cassiopeia is enjoyable. This Gothic / Doom metal genre tends to gone monotonous in my experience, but Cassiopeia really gives enough tricks to cast away that repetitive feature and make the album an interesting darkened melodic metal journey. If you are into the genre, this should be enough to be called an excellent album.

Metalharem class: ******** eight stars out of ten

Nightfall – Cassiopeia 2013
Buy it here

01. Phaethon
02. Oberon & Titania
03. Colonize Cultures
04. The Nightwatch
05. Stellar Parallax
06. Hubris
07. The Reptile Gods
08. Hyperion
09. Akhenaton, The 9th Pharaoh Of The 18th Dynasty
10. The Sand Reckoner
11. Astropolis

NIGHTFALL is:
Efthimis Karadimas - Vocals
Evan Hensley - Guitar
Constantine - Guitar
Stathis Ridis - Bass
Stathis Kassios - Keyboards
Jörg Uken - Drums

My Dying Bride - A Map to All Our Failures (2012)

When came to a good doom metal stuff, I just enjoy the relaxation and atmosphere the genre best done. My Dying Bride with A Map to All Our Failures is the album capable of doing that. From the first guitar notes, listener asked to carefully follow the flow, defined the atmospheric effect and synchronize the mind and body with the music. Lots of big words for describe the mood of AMtAOF.

You can spend eight minutes of stillness in track like Abandones as Christ, or adjust the heartbeat right to more dynamic song called Kneel Till Doomsday. The Poorest Waltz exploit the despair mood in their good song melody. Killer guitar riff that able to rise curiosity to listener to find out more, that is what's going on in this album. We also treated with acoustic violin line, something best in A Map to All Our Failures. Then we also have doom day sound effect in Hail Odysseus, a song that just beginning the climax with intense guitar riff and drumming.

Guitar tone are sounds great, literally singlehand build up the mood. Then the singer Aaron Stainthorpe is able to emotionally connect the song with listener. It's a comeback album in term of sounds more '90s UK doom metal compare to My Dying Bride done in previous two albums. It's a good album to catch up Paradise Lost this year in that sense.

Metalharem class: ******** eight stars out of ten

My Dying Bride - A Map to All Our Failures (2012)

buy it here at Amazon

1. Kneel Till Doomsday 07:52
2. The Poorest Waltz 05:08
3. A Tapestry Scorned 08:00
4. Like a Perpetual Funeral 08:32
5. A Map of All Our Failures 07:52
6. Hail Odysseus 08:54
7. Within the Presence of Absence 08:50
8. Abandoned as Christ 08:36

Andrew Craighan ,Guitars

Aaron Stainthorpe ,Vocals

Hamish Hamilton Glencross, Guitars

Lena Abé, Bass

Shaun Macgowan, Keyboards, Violin

Shaun Taylor-Steels, Drums, Percussion