Deathwhite - Grave Image

I've been keeping my eye on Deatwhite for a while now. Having formed back in 2012, their 2017 debut full length, For A Black Tomorrow was an impressive opening salvo for the melodic doom stalwarts. Now the band are back with Grave Image - a huge step forward for the goth metallers that drops today. This is one of the bands most fascinating artistic statements to date, a record that has a very real depth to it and with an overarching sense of sonic poetry that you can really find yourself getting lost in.

I think what gets me here is the excellence in the execution of the guitars. The tone is excellent and the melodic lines are wonderfully delivered. The soaring clean vocals also help to further cement this band as something truly special. Yet rather than looking back to the work of their musical ancestors in bands like Novembers Doom, Deathwhite eagerly bring in all sorts of elements of more modern sounds, most notably more than a few prog elements. This is a record that feels distinctly 2020 and gives us a glimpse into the psyche of a band who have wonderfully distilled their core influences whilst paying attention to the growth of the scene as a whole.

Brilliantly produced and nicely executed throughout, Grave Image is a thriller, a record that seems to routinely one up itself. Deathwhite is a truly impressive band because of that, they encapsulate a certain breadth, a stately sound and top notch execution. In short - Grave Image sees the band coming out as a veritable force in their genre, the sort of band who elevate the dialog for this music across the globe. Grave Image is a masterful offering, but it leavees me very curious as to where Deathwhite is headed next.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/deathwhiteofficial/

The Old Dead Tree - The End

One of the thing that gets me about the Season of Mist roster is the sheer diversity that they bring to the table with their roster's bands. The Old Dead Tree is a great example of this - they are gothic metal legends who have been at it for over 20 years with a unique sound and clear vision that will push them over the top time and time again. The End is a transcendent record, an album that represents their nearly quarter century of songwriting experience. It makes for a compelling listen that is a clear step forward for the band.

Writing this review I was shocked to see that it had been 12 years since this band has released music because I remember them being fairly new as a kid. I guess that goes to show... something horrifying I guess. The point being, The End stands remarkably fresh for a band who have taken this kind of hiatus. Sure it may only be a five song EP, but these five songs represent just how far The Old Dead Tree have come since their humble beginning. This latest offering is a potent record that is worth multiple listens and which seems to distill a variety of elements of modern metal mixed in with their traditional goth sensibilities.

Suffice it to say - this is some wonderfully dark and often heart wrenching shit. The production here is excellent too - the amber waves of sound that define a track like Someone Should Know (The Truth) As for now it seems like this record might be, as the closing track suggests, The End Again but maybe, just maybe we can hold out hope for these titans of gothic rock to come back and deliver more magic like this - because when it comes down to it, this is a pretty next level piece of music on all fronts.

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https://www.facebook.com/TheOldDeadTree.Official/

To Cast A Shadow - Winter's Embrace

It's always cool when a band makes a significant stylistic leap between albums. Such was the case with Winter's Embrace, the record that finally launched To Cast A Shadow from gothic metal also-rans into a truly powerful musical force. The bands powerful new male vocals (As opposed to the traditional female) are reminiscent of Katatonia and the general approach to songwriting, with its darker, more introspective take on the genre is delicious. Longtime fans need not worry - there ARE indeed a few moments of female vocals on this record to. Overall this album reminds us that To Cast A Shadow are stellar songwriters who have managed to take some standard tropes and turn it into something epic.

The lyrics themselves stand as a powerful contribution to what the ban dhas been able to craft here. They add a crucial layer to the musi that I think not enough of the groups peers are going to appreciate. See - Winter's Embrace captures my imagination not just with its powerful soundscapes, but the way that t communicates a sense of melancholy an despair that is wonderfully human. It is an album that speaks to the spirit and reminds us that through the sorrow and extinction we can do nothing more but to persist. Winter's Embrace is exactly that - a reassuring comfort from the darkest throes of the night.

Winter's Embrace blazes forth with a sort of understated passion. A reminder that even as we trudge through the night there will be times when we don' know what to do and we need to let the dark envelop us. The bands powerful compositions are a step beyond anything they have done before and they sweep you off your feet. While there certainly are a handful of standout tracks this album really becomes valuable when you listen to it in its entirety and fully embrace all that it has come to mean, for all of us.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/ToCastaShadow/?fref=ts

Nightingale - Retribution

Having been a fan of Dan Swanö's work as a musician and producer, I could barely contain all the excitement when I heard that a new Nightingale record was in the works. Having become Dan's main project after retiring Edge of Sanity, Nightingale's progressive rock/metal sound has come to exemplify frontman Dan Swanö's will to keep moving forward as a musician and as an artist.
Now, after 7 years of absence, the band is finally back with a brand new album titled "Retribution"

With this latest release, the band seems to have toned down the progressive element in comparison with their previous albums, opting for more straightforward structured compositions. The guitars are slightly less punchy and less prominent in the mixes for a good part of the album this time around, occasionally leaving more room for the synths to add a stronger 80's flavor to some songs.

Dan Swanö's powerful singing voice is the main point of focus of each song, with every other instrument taking a step back to complement the vocal melodies. The lead guitar melodies are splendidly written but serve mostly as ornaments to serve the vocal melody.

This "poppier" approach, while slight on a few tracks, occasionally change the tone of Nightingales' sound quite significantly. During certain passages I couldn't help but get a strong 80's glam metal vibe from the songs-

Unfortunately, while the album offers some incredibly catchy hooks on a few songs (e.g.: Lucifer's Lament, Forevermore), Retribution suffers from a lack of rhythmic dynamics and a lack of diversity. Pretty much every track on here is a ballad or a power ballad, set roughly at the same tempo, with the same drum groove.

A few songs still manage to stand out from the rest with some powerful hooks, but the rhythmic monotony of the album certainly does not do them much justice, unfortunately. Most of the songs on the album are fairly solid but do not work as well collectively.

Overall, while Retribution occasionally delivers some incredibly catchy tunes, it's overall stripped down song structures and slight lack of diversity prevents it from being an engaging listening experience as a whole. While slightly disappointing on that aspect, this album is still going to please the confirmed Nightingale fans like me who have been waiting for some new material from the band.

Robin

Nightingale

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/nightingalesweden

Dan Swanö's website

http://www.danswano.com/nightingale.php

Manes - Be All End All

After over five years of preparation, the Metal veterans from Manes return from their second hiatus with the release of the great atmospheric Be All End All. Following the line of the Norwegian group's two previous works, How The World Came To An End, and Vilosophe, this album focuses on creating dense auras with highly reverbed instrumentation, seemingly disjointed twitchy artificial noises, and hypnotic loops.

Even though there are no highly distorted instruments and aggressive drumming, this album still manages to sound strangely heavy. Tension builds as the echoes of the guitars clash with each other in the background. The vocals transit from radio-like to moans to distant calls, always in the most distressing manner possible. Meanwhile, the drums and twitchy noises (I really cannot find a better term to describe them) remain in the background, to emerge as dramatizing agents when necessary.

There is a divide going on about half way through the album, starting with track 6, Free As In Free To Leave. Suddenly, the focus of the songs shifts from mostly acoustic loops and electronic sounds to more traditional riff-based pieces. These  latter pieces feature prominent distorted guitars, dramatic vocals, and marked drumming, similarly to Paradise Lost's Symbol Of Life. Such changes may result from combining pre and post-hiatus pieces into the same album.

Be All End All is a great addition to the stream of atmospheric stuff I have been reviewing lately. It is not only a refinement of Manes' musical experiments, but also a possible indicator of the group's shift towards a more Gothic sonority.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/manes.no

Delain-The Human Contradiction

Delain have long stood out as one of the Netherlands  strongest symphonic metal acts, and one of their best groups period. This new record of their The Human Contradiction is simply more evidence to showcase the enduring power of a band who seem bred to succeed, metal warriors who craft epic and interesting soundscapes built on contrasts of dark and light, male and female, clean and growled. The Human Contradiction is an incredibly interesting listen and will keep any fan of modern metal headbanging and contemplating for many a spin.

From the first this record is engaging because Delain have really come to a new head in their songwriting skill. These compositions are often shorter, but still feel epic in scale. Delain understand how to craft some truly wonderful pieces that engage the listener. The ethereal spin that Delain put on their music is beautiful in its own way. It gives the group a drive and an attack that not a lot of their symphonic metal and goth rock contemporaries can really touch on. Charlotte Wessels has improved her voice too, the performance on The Human Contradiction is easily her best yet and will keep you going for hours. Furthermore, the duality between her voice and the male cleans and growls is very interesting and will keep the listener very engaged.

All in all, The Human Contradiction is Delain really coming into their own as musicians, rising above their past limitations and creating something that really is the voice of the soul. Four albums in Delain have managed to put out a stunning, heart stopping statement that keeps your ears on edge as you take a roller coaster ride across beautiful soundscapes, guided by the soaring might of Ms. Wessels. Prepare yourselves, once this record starts to really get out there it will take the world by storm, Napalm Records have done good getting this band, and now Delain will triumph.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/delainmusic

Crematory-Antiserum

Crematory is a band who create heavy music of a sort I can say I've never really heard before. Their new record Antiserum features all sorts of ideas that fuse electronic music with death metal, and everything in between. Yet do not mistake this for a mere aggrotech record, no, there is something more to the Crematory sound. Yes they are distinctly gothic, but really defining this incredible mashup of styles would be hard. With elements of Cynic as well as Nightwish, Godflesh and Combichrist Antiserum is exciting and fresh, showing a new way forward for metal.

The first thing that might strike you about this record is when the band experiments with autotuning death growls. The end result of this is actually really cool (I believe one or two other bands have done this too, but not to the same degree as Crematory). The overall songwriting is excellent, the mix of growls and cleans is wonderfully done. Meanwhile the clean vocals are simply top notch, this guy can really rip. I also dig the guitar riffs quite a bit, the way the band provides a groovy crunch to the bottom end of their sound does wonders for the music. It gives the entire thing an impressive drive and a forward motion that none can deny, bringing the album forward to new extremes.

In short, this is a metal record that mixes in electronic elements but its not obnoxious in doing so. Instead it expertly intertwines the two genres ending up with something that is both completely different and very cool. Not only is Antiserum one of the most purely different sounding extreme metal records out there today, it is also one of the most refreshing. A gentle reassurance that sampling can fuse with metal in wonderful ways. Crematory have been around for 23 years and I get the impression that nothing is going to stop them from blazing on for another 23 (or more) so hold on to your hats, and prepare to inject the Antiserum.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/CREMATORY

The Eternal-When the Circle of Light Begins to Fade

Not a lot of bands can claim to have been together long enough to put out five albums, but The Eternal have seemingly done it with ease. Their unique melancholic hard rock sound is rather beautiful in its own right. Their new record When the Circle of Light Begins to Fade is thirteen tracks of somber and majestic rock and roll mastery. This is the kind of record that sounds sad, yet somehow leaves you with a message of hope, a release that find a roundabout way into the listeners heart and then forces them to stay and enjoy the inner glory of the music.

There are a lot of things that help to make When the Circle of Light Begins to Fade and I think that a lot of them can be attributed to the bands relatively large output. The songwriting is very tight and features some clear and precise progressions. The vocal lines are especially well done, they help the listener to get lost in the music and the occasional female vocals add a lot of flavor to the music. I also really dig the guitar solos, not too flashy they slot in nicely with the music and add to the whole general atmosphere of the band. The way this group creates a soundscape is the product of much experience and it's frighteningly easy to get lost in all that the band is capable of doing.

What I'm trying to say here is that The Eternal is a group of truly excellent musicians. More than that though When the Circle of Light Begins to Fade often transcends music, it becomes a state of mind more than anything else, taking over your entire being and holding you in thrall to the dark tunes that dominate this record. From the initial track Circle of Light to the majestic closer, The Burning Truth, this album has come to capture and torture my heart. This is a record that could have a wide appeal, to more mainstream rock fans and dedicated metal dudes. I am excited to hear even more from one of Australia's greatest bands!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/TheEternal

Mourning of the Heretic

Mourning of the Heretic is a cool gothic metal band whose bombastic sound and dedication to all that is heavy hitting is a lot of fun to listen to. These guys have a great handle on what it is to craft some to notch gothic metal songs. Yet their is something much darker here than you might find in many of their contemporaries work. Mourning of the Heretic incorporate black metal and horror elements that other groups in their genre of choice might not dare to touch. This creates a sound that is a lot more exciting to a hoary old metal dude like me, but not so extreme that it would really alienate fans of more typical gothic metal. In other words, Mourning of the Heretic find a nice balance and I think that if they play their cards right they could right it to success. Something for those of you who like theatric metal as well as those who dig more dark symphonic sounds Mourning of the Heretic have a clear image and a definite artistic direction, here's to hoping they can fully capitalize on their own brand of heavy metal magic.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/Mourningoftheheretic/app_204974879526524

Demorian-Disco Diabolique

Now, one thing I don't get enough of on this site is industrial metal, especially not the strangely aggrotech derived madness that bands like Demorian provide. Here is a group with a sound that fuses a variety of styles, ranging from black metal to experimental electronic music and goth metal. It makes for music that is unique and distinctly enjoyable, and quite frankly, rather addictive. The strange grooves embodied by their new record, Disco Diabolique, capture the heart with their distinct approach to the genre, rocking in the free world in a way no one has rocked before.

My favorite aspect of the music is the change in dynamics. The way the band shifts from gentle industrial to blazing black metal is wonderful. It feels natural and powerful, reflecting the spirits of the musicians. Moreover, it just works it shows a new approach to music and one that I can really get behind and appreciate. The songwriting is powerful too, the spiraling melodies and ethereal vocals help to make it easy to get lost in the bands music. Their unique blend of keyboards and guitars creates a gothic feel that breaks into the soul with a bleak and unforgiving attack. The downtrodden feel of songs like A Magic Moment help to give Disco Diabolique a whole new flavor.

In conclusion, Disco Diabolique is the kind of record that fuses a variety of influences and rather than coming out as a mess, comes out as an artistic triumph. The kind of record that gives new life to the genre and showcases some of the coolest things happening in metal today. Iconoclastic and often impossible to clarify, I for one really dig the strange music of Demorian and will definitely be coming back to listen to more of this record in the near future. Disco Diabolique is a promising release and I can't wait to hear what these Swedes come up with next!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/DemorianBand

Levania-Renascentis

Some of you may remember Levania from previous reviews I've written of them. For the uninitiated, LEvania is a powerful gothic metal band who bring their music to a new level by using all sorts of intertwined vocal melodies to create a triumphant music that breaks boundaries with its powerful and dynamic sound. Their new record Renascentis which is easily their best album yet. Heavier and more bombastic than anything they have previously released Renascentis shows Levania is well on their way to an ultimate triumph, a new way of looking at metal.

As I mentioned before the highlight of this record is the mix of vocal styles. While the female cleans dominate their are also a lot of male cleans and even death growls. These all intertwine to create something very interesting and fresh. Levania have a lot of cool new ideas, and this mixing of vocal styles is one of the best, I'd like to seem them make even more use of it in the future. Meanwhile the riffs on this record strike me as a lot punchier and more aggressive than on their last release. This obviously is a good thing as it really engages the listener. Yet, these guys have not completely gone heavy, the magical keyboard parts on songs like Spiral show the old symphonic magic is still there.

In conclusion, if you're looking for a gothic metal record that doesn't confine itself to the maxims of the genre but instead finds a new way to explore the music then Renascentis is the album for you. One of the most creative gothic metal bands out there the future seems very bright for this young quintet. These Italians definitely have the innovation to go far and hopefully Wormholedeath Records (Their label) can help push them to get the recognition they deserve. If nothing else Renascentis will go down in metal history as a killer record!

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Levania/79684453130

Mena Brinno-Princess of the Night

Aural caresses, beautiful vocals and tight songs. Those are the things that should define gothic metal. Mena Brinno executes it perfectly. With a highly polished and beautiful sound Mena Brinno is a great gothic metal hope for the state of Florida. Since 2006 this Tampa quartet have been making refined and organic music. Their new album Princess of the Night is a testament to the enduring magic and power that gothic metal can have. Fronted by a bonafide opera singer Mena Brinno is a veritable heavy metal force and their beautiful sound is not one you easily forget.

I love the mix of synths in the bands sound. It gives the music a lot of flavor and adds an otherworldly pulse to the music. Meanwhile, there are tons of tasty guitar solos that leave the listener in awe. With bursts of Yngwie Malmsteen like shredding might this album becomes a lot spicier. I'd also like to emphasize the important of the groups vocalist. Her soaring lines and epic stature within the band is very impressive and she really helps to show the eternal might of female fronted metal. She is quite literally one of the most talented singers that I have heard all year! As a whole, on Princess of the Night Mena Brinno prove themselves to be capable musicians who find dramatic fusions of metal and classical operas.

In conclusion, this is a very bombastic and majestic release. Their is an enduring power to the tracks on Princess of the Night that few modern gothic metal albums have. With an absolutely magnificent set of pipes carrying the band to whole new levels of metal madness Mena Brinno is a glorious group who are some of the most talented musicians you will hear all year. Fans of female fronted metal will melt in admiration for the musical prowess of this band. Princess of the Night is quite likely going to be my gothic metal album of the year!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/menabrinno

Nailgun-New World Chaos

Oftentimes modern power metal lacks any true heavy metal grit. Instead the music becomes weak and incapable of achieving its true potential. It is hard to find a power metal singer with a true darkness in his voice on the modern scene. Enter Nailgun, with bombastic vocals and a rather gothic overall sound Nailgun is a darkly majestic power metal act who seek to bring the genre to a new level of blackness. Getting much heavier and grimmer than most power metal stalwarts would dare New World Chaos shows a young power metal act at the top of their game and ready to take on the world,

What needs to be realized about New World Chaos is that it in timbre it is far heavier than most modern power metal, yet it still fits into the genres maxims. The guitar work on this album is filled with fun melody lines and heavy riffs, oftentimes with both going on at once. A great example of this is the track “I have enough” which features a bright intro solo contrasted by shockingly heavy riffs and a low pitched vocal attack. It should be noted that despite the vocalists low voice he never descends into growling or even shouting. Instead he uses its natural bombast to control the darkness inherent in his voice and harness it to bring the bands sound forward, making it into its own distinct breed of power metal.

In conclusion, this bands uncharacteristically heavy power metal sound allows them to become a unique creation with innovative ideas. With just a few spins it has become one of my favorite power metal releases of 2013 thus far. A band that provides some spice to an over saturated European scene Nailgun proves that there is still some interesting music to be had in the world of power metal. For any fan of the genre New World Chaos will be a fun listen that is worth a couple of spins. While not earth shaking its definitely more creative than most of the modern scene and I am very interested in seeing where Nailgun takes their sound in the future!

The Stompcrash

The Stompcrash is a powerful vest metal band, in many ways a strong alternative to the occult magic of Ghost B.C. Far from doing any stomping or crashing these guys seek to transcend the ideas implemented by their name. With a variety of indy elements incorporated in their sound they show themselves to be unique and capable of creating their own sound. They have a sort of unbearable lightness that makes them seem all the heavier and grimmer. The Stompcrash's new album Direction is a moody mix of styles that culminates in a chunk of gothic blackness that is hard to ignore or cast aside, The Stompcrash is a mighty new force on the dark music scene.

There is a powerful use of synthesizers on this album that help to make it unique. They add to the heavy feeling that permeates the music while not actually being heavy in and of themselves. There are also some more electronic inspired passages which seem to fit very well. I also really like the range of vocal styles used, from heavy almost Rammstein like male cleans to more soothing female ones. Yet they always have the same creepy detached air that seems to define Direction's sound. The use of guitar is fairly limited and mostly just used here and there to add atmosphere. Meanwhile the drums and bass work together to give the music a pulse that throbs throughout the album.

In conclusion, Directionis a solid gothic vest metal record. It has all of the grim certainty of black metal with the laid back might of classic rock. The driving synths and bursts of guitar make sure you are never left bored. The music is moving, it reaches out to the listener and does not leave them be. A powerful band who, while similar to bands like Ghost B.C., are still very much their own thing, The Stompcrash is something any fan of darker music will enjoy. From shockingly heavy keyboard lines to creepy vocals this is a beautiful piece of gothic magic.

Check them out on facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/TheStompcrash

Unseelie

Unseelie is a cool modern symphonic metal band. They have a rather powerful sound that incorporates both folk and gothic elements. In many ways I am reminded a lot of Leaves Eyes, like O An Thar (a band I reviewed recently) this band finds a nice combination between its heavier side and more acoustic beauty. The guitar parts are often rather rhythmically complex and filled with all sorts of fun riffs. You really get headbanging on the heaviest bits, it adds a lot of flavor to the music. There is also an acoustic side that is mostly comprised of arpeggiated chords. This also adds a great element to the music and encourages you to keep listening. The bass work on this record is pretty solid and there are a lot of powerful parts where the bass really shines through. It shows the true power of this guy and all the might that he can add to a band. The drumming is steady and fits nicely into the more complex symph metal rhythms. It also does a good job in fitting into the more acoustic side of the music. In particular the drumming on the acoustic parts is very tasty as it shows all that this guy can do. His playing also fits nicely into the beautiful progressive arrangements. At once beautiful and calm and aggressive and brutal, this drummer is pretty excellent. The keyboard work is often symphonic and adds a very epic layer to the music. In particular the keys on Le Printemps de Desdémone are brilliant. Finally we have the vocals, classically trained and very melodic the singer of this band can really belt it. Her voice is beautiful and you don't want to stop listening. She really makes this band as great as it is. In conclusion, Unseelie is a very cool and tasty symph metal band that combines cool goth and folk elements to create a unique sound that you will not get tired of.

https://www.facebook.com/Unseelieband/app_2405167945

Falling For Vanity

Falling for Vanity is a very interesting hard rock band with a sound that combines a lot of elements, yet somehow manages to come out as a cohesive whole. Their music has a kind of manic energy to it that is very tasty. The guitar riffing is heavy and fast and the brutal riffs really get me going. I particularly like the combination of glam and goth that we see on a lot of the tracks. Its a very interesting mix that makes me hunger for more of both genres. Then we have the bass playing, with solid riffs the bassist really adds a lot of power to the sound. He especially shines on the more Nu-Metal bits which feature some of the best moments of brutality on the album. The drum playing here is also rather good. There are a lot of rock and roll fills that add a bit of an old school feel to the music. At the same time, some of his playing adds a major energy boost to the overall songs. The singing is viciously powerful. From deep growls to heavy shrieks this vocalist can do it all. His voice is fascinating and it really mixes a lot of cool elements into the music. In conclusion, Falling for Vanity is a really fun band that combines some great elements for a stellar sound. So check them out!

https://www.facebook.com/fallingforvanity/info

Dark Passion Play

 I might not be able to get a lot of reviews done today as my grandparents are visiting. Anyway, today I am reviewing the killer Nightwish album Dark Passion Play, it has an incredible symphonic metal sound. There is a excellent and powerful guitar sound, this is helped by a solid bass which actually gets some nice fills, the drums are amazing as they are on most good symphonic metal albums. There are also some powerful keyboards which are a key factor adding to the orchestral sound. In addition there are some nice string instruments that make you feel like you are listening to a real orchestra. The vocals are typically sweet and soft and feminine however there are times when they give way to growls or other harsh masculine vocals. Finally the lyrics are extremely powerful and typically very dark and sad sounding.

The guitar has a powerful sound, however it is mercifully balanced between distorted and clean work. This allows for a lot of variety within the course of the song. The pedal is a key aspect of the guitar work and it is done very well. It is remarkable to hear the guitars extremely melodic solos and fills which to me are extremely beautiful. The bass is solid and when it gets fills it is well done and adds a nice feel to the music. When it is hidden in the background it is not given much of a chance to do anything because the guitars (bass and electric) do not dominate the music. The drums are solid and original. My favorite part is how the drums manage to be both symphonic and heavy often in the course of the same song. The keyboards are solid and add a nice feel to the music making it feel like you are listening to classical music with an awesome electric guitar. Finally there are some nice string instruments which add a lot to the general aura of orchestral music.

The vocals are fairly well done however they seem to be lacking something. The feminine vocals of Anette Olzon are certainly extremely beautiful and they make the music seem a bit sad. However when I hear them I do not want to get up and dance and revel in them. Here I just want to listen to them and appreciate their beauty. Essentially I feel that her actual singing is pretty amazing but she could be a bit more fiery and bring out her love for music more. The lyrics are excellent and often very sad and dark.. This compliments Anette's voice perfectly as she excels at creating a sad sound around her vocals.

This is an amazing album for several key reasons. The first reason is the amazing instrumental parts. They truly reflect what an orchestra sounds like using only a few instruments. Then they add their own impressive feel with the electric guitar. The bass is also fairly solid and when it comes through it shines. One of my favorite parts about this album is the killer drum work. The drummer for this band is extremely talented. One of the main symphonic aspects of this band is the keyboards which have a fantastic sound and create a majestic aura. To round out the instrumental section the orchestra is excellent and obviously adding a symphony to symphonic metal makes the symphonic metal symphonic. :/ The vocals are very good however they lack a really nice fiery passion that would help them a lot. Finally the lyrics are deep and sad and overall very enjoyable. All in all this is a killer album and one I would strongly recommend.

OVERALL 9/10