Ravenheart Music: Reviews

ARTESIA..'LLYDAW'

(Prikosnovenie) Reviewed 25th July 2010

Artesia started as a French female duet playing atmospheric music. The band was formed in 2001 by Agathe (keyboards, choirs), and a first recording, "l'Eveil de l'Ame" was made in june 2003 (8 titles/38 minutes), but the sound was very bad, and the cd was not distributed. On December 2005, Artesia signed a deal with Prikosnovenie, a French label based near Nantes, specialising in faërie and world music. 'Llydaw' is the band's third album of mainly Atmospheric Gothic, Ambient music, whilst I have even heard this style of music described as funeral music. Maybe not the type of music you'll want to listen too therefore, if you want to head bang, are looking for a good hook or chorus, or even if you are contemplating suicide :) However, for a chill out with a bottle of good old French wine, it is not bad. Sung in the band's native tongue, we have 8 tracks of ambient music, that although good, can begin to sound a little samey after a while. If you think this maybe your cuppa tea, then check Artesia out at www.myspace.com/artesia1983. Could be worth a punt... 7.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave)

FRIGHT NIGHT..'THE PLAY OF PAIN'

(Jetnoise Records) Reviewed 13th July 2010

Fright Night is a gothic rock project by singer, guitarist and composer Marianna ‘Winter’ Lukyanova and her band. She is joined on lead vocals by Alexey ‘Ergil’ Ovsiyenko who has an extraordinary deep voice akin to Brad Roberts of Crash Test Dummies fame, and his spoken passages are especially effective and atmospheric. It is a welcome change to have a male vocalist who actually sings rather than growls, I wish more gothic band would take note. Marianna also has a deep dramatic voice, so you get double deepness, an unusual combination. Their music is a unique blend of The Fields of Nephilm, gothic era Damned, The Mission, Lacrimosa, Skeletal Family, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed, Camel and Ennio Morricone spaghetti western. ‘His Death’, ‘The Blood’, ‘We Will Go’, ‘The Cross and the Pyre’, ‘Black’ and my favourite ‘The Letter of the End’ are all multi faceted songs with a wide variety of textures and tones, from the melancholic to the rocking. The mournful ‘The Summon’ features just Winter and piano, and the ghostly ‘Two Roses’ has Ergil narrating over a backing of Winter’s flanged guitar arpeggios and howling winds. ‘Rainbow Demon’ is a cover of the song by that behemoth of British heavy rock, Uriah Heep, which they turn into a spaghetti western, I expected a dust covered Lee Van Cleef to walk through the door! The most remarkable song is ‘Christopher Lee’, Ergil’s narrated paean to the master of horror with the equally deep voice, which sounds like the sort of off kilter lounge jazz that Leonard Cohen does so well. The highly melodic music is full of superb keyboards, and Winter’s guitar work is most excellent, especially her solo on ‘The Letter of the End’. A special mention must also be made of the deep and very poetic lyrics. I will sum it up as progressive spaghetti gothic jazz alt rock, which just about covers all bases. The obvious customer base is gothic rocks fans, but it will also appeal to fans of off beat artists like Leonard Cohen. Available from CD Baby, and their Myspace is www.myspace.com/frightnightband . Frightfully good stuff, 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Phil)

DIE SO FLUID..'THE WORLD IS TOO BIG FOR ONE LIFETIME'

(DR2 Records) Reviewed 2nd July 2010

Die So Fluid, a threesome fronted by the deliciously named Grog (she is also the bassist by the way) is from London, and can best be described as an alternative rock band, offering a mix of goth, mainstream rock and grunge, all added with a kinda punk attitude. This I understand is their third release, and is another good offering from this band. 'Figurine' opens this record and is blaster of a track. 'Mercury' is another powerful offering with a catchy chorus to boot. However, the album I fear does lose it's way on the odd occasion, but having said that, it seems to get better on subsequent listens - always the sign of a good album I think. Other tracks worth checking out are 'Storm', the awesome title track, 'Raven' and 'What a Heart Is For'. This record should be fairly easy to obtain from the normal retail outlets or the internet. Cool!! 8/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

VIC ANSELMO..'TRAPPED IN A DREAM'

(Vic Anselmo Management/Avasonic/Rough Trade/Irond, etc) Reviewed 29th June 2010

Vic, short for Victoria, is a Latvian gothic lovely who gets her stage name Anselmo from Pantera’s vocalist, Phil Anselmo; apparently she was such a big fan, her friends christened her Vic Anselmo! However, there are no musical similarities to that American monolith of metal on this her debut album of self written songs. Rather, her style both musically and vocally is a mix of Bat For Lashes, Florence and the Machine, Kate Bush, Bjork, Divine Madness, Stream of Passion and original line up Karnataka. She really has a beautiful and very versatile voice. Every song is fascinating, emotive and evocative, with touches of electronica and psychedelia, delightful keys and guitars, with a wide palette of sounds and dynamics, from gentle acoustics to powerful electrics. Songs like ‘Who?’ and ‘World From Here’ are wonderfully melodic, ‘The Flight’ and ‘Put Your Spell On Me’ are more powerful, and ‘Beverley and ‘Bus Top’ are quirky bordering on bonkers, so you get plenty of variety. ‘I Cried’ is an extraordinary and very moving Celtic voice and piano tribute to Dimebag Darrell, the Pantera guitarist who was murdered on stage in Ohio by a crazed gunman, who also killed and injured several other people in the same incident. The start of the next song then frightens the life out you, the ripping, gripping tale of Jack the Ripper,‘Deadman Walks’, complete with manic pipe organ. Special mention should also go to the immaculate production and performances by guitarist Herman Rigmant and keys player George Kadolchik (bizarrely, they are both members of Latvian progressive death metal band Neglected Fields, what a contrast in styles!), as well as the Lewis Carroll surrealist world created by Arthur Berzinsh’s superb artwork. The only negative point is its comparative brevity, at just 34 minutes, it leaves you hungry for more. This is incredibly intelligent and imaginative music that will appeal to bat cavers, pop hipsters, indie ravers and melodic prog beard strokers alike, and you can’t say that about many albums. Vic is one of first artists to escape Latvia, and she has the sound to a long, long way. Her Myspace is www.myspace.com/vicanselmomusic and the album is available at a range of emporiums, a highly deserving 9/10 (Reviewed by Phil).

CRYOSHELL..'CRYOSHELL'

(VME) Reviewed 26th June 2010

Denmark’s Cryoshell has caused quite a stir at Ravenheart Towers, we all sense something BIG could be occurring, and judging by the number of hits their videos have been getting, so do many other people all over the world. The band had an unusual genesis, gorgeous singer Christine Lorentzen, keys man Mikkel Maltha and guitarist Kasper Søderlund originally came together to create the music for Lego’s Bionicle, before turning into a full fledged group. But this could not be further from the normal kid’s TV fare, Cryoshell are a full on, bona fide, powerful symphonic gothic metal band, a mix of Within Temptation, Lacuna Coil and Evanescence. Christine has a magnificent voice that reminds me of a mix of Cristina Scabbia and a rocked up Shania Twain. The huge production is by Jacob Hansen who has a list of credits that would fill this page, including Delain, Pythia, and The Storm which Dave recently reviewed. They set their stall out with the ultra commercial, hook laden symphonic pop metal of ‘Creeping In My Soul’ featuring a smidgen of groovy rapping, before they show their other side with ‘Bye Bye Babylon’ built around a killer eastern flavoured guitar riff. ‘Trigger’ is an immense burner with wonderful acoustic and electric guitar, followed by the pounding ‘Feed’, with another superb chorus, and the colossal, soaring, gothic ‘Closer to the Truth’, it is very difficult to believe they did the music for Lego. Next up are a brace of melodic rock/metal songs, the chiming ‘Calling’ and the emotive ‘The Room’, before they ramp it up again for the stomping headbanger ‘Come To My Heaven’. The penultimate song is the moody dramatic ‘Murky’ with yet more fabulous keyboard motifs, and finally the achingly beautiful ballad ‘No More Words’, with glorious rippling piano arpeggios and lush orchestration. The only down point is the sleeve art which I find totally mystifying, looking like something out of a Stephen King psychological horror movie, totally out of keeping with the music. Quite simply one of the best debuts for years, with the right promo this band could go global - they have the songs, the sound and the look. Currently the CD is only released in Denmark, and the band are looking for a major label, but you can beat the rush and try for a copy at http://cdon.eu/music/cryoshell/cryoshell-9420264, and their website with relevant links is http://www.cryoshell.com/. I heartily recommend a visit to their You Tube, their videos are outstanding. All I can say is staggering, an utterly jaw dropping 10/10 (Reviewed by Phil).

EDENBRIDGE..'SOLITAIRE'

(Napalm Records) Reviewed 20th June 2010

Edenbridge is a stunningly consistently good band, that since the year 2000 has brought a little bit of heaven down to earth. And Solitiare carries on the fine Edenbridge tradition and therefore is no exception to this rule. Guitarist Lanvall, once again proves impressively capable of combining musical sophistication with catchy melody lines. Solitaire offers heavy guitar riffs, elaborate orchestral arrangements, and powerful drum parts. The musical foundation is crowned by Sabine Edelsbacher, whose singular voice carries the diverse compositions to new heights. The end result is a multi-faceted kaleidoscope of melodic heavy metal songs such as 'Solitaire', 'Further Afield' and 'Bon Voyage Vagabond', coupled with crunching power ballads such as 'Skyline's End'. Then we have the hideously catchy 'Higher' and 'Come Undone', and if you are able to sit still while listening to these tracks, then you must be unwell :). The final polish is the work of mixing guru Karl Groom (Threshold) and the mastering genius of Mika Jussila (Finnvox Studio). Solitaire is an atmospherically solid and technically masterful album that majestically sets itself apart from all prevalent clichés, and will do nothing less than captivate symphonic metal fans to the core! The Symphonic Metal Crown may have been worn by Nightwish in the past. However, it has now been passed to Edenbridge. And with Robby Valentine and Dennis Ward offering backing vocals & choir parts as well, this release is awesome, totally awesome....9.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave)

EGO LIKENESS..'BREEDLESS'

(Metropolis Records Import) Reviewed 7th June 2010

Ego Likeness from the USA has an energetic sound, a kinda gothic/electronic/rock crossover combined with triphop/ethereal influences. Most striking elements here are the powerful vocals of Donna Lynch, that remind me of acts like Collide. Ego Likeness is like a good wine - getting better the older they become. 'Breedless', their third album like their other releases, offers up some dance floor favourites like the title track, the awesome 'Inferno' and the catchy 'Séance'. Then we have the thumping 'The Devils in the Chemicals', the drum pounding 'Now Until Forever' and the atmospheric, haunting and rather touching 'Song For Samael', as other good examples of what this album has to offer. Ego Likeness can even rock out - 'The Lowest Place on Earth' in-fact being one of my fave tracks on this record! There is hardly a song on this album where it is impossible not to keep still. So how about getting the lasers out, cranking up the stereo, annoying the neighbours and losing yourself in the music. I have their previous two releases, they are good, but this is frikin' good if I may say so! 9/10 (Reviewed by Dave)

DIABULUS IN MUSICA..'SECRETS'

(Metal Blade) Reviewed 6th June 2010

This debut album from Diabulus has had a long two year gestation, it was originally recorded by top studio guru Inaki Llarena back in 2008, but they felt that the sound was too heavy, with the top classical talent they had enlisted buried in the mix. So they asked Epica’s former guitarist Ad Sluijter for his help, and he duly volunteered to remix the CD himself, and a jolly good job he has done I must say. Ad had jumped the Epica ship as it headed into extreme waters, so it is perhaps no surprise that the closest parallel here is early Epica. This is a game of two halves (it is the World Cup after all). After a brief intro comes the five best tunes – catchy, commercial, melodic and groovy, but with heavier passages and a bit of growling to remind you that they are a metal band. Key features are the wonderful choir and Zuberoa Aznarez’s glorious semi operatic voice, a softer version of Simone Simons. Epica had Tony Blair, Diabulus have trumped this with an appearance by Barack Obama on ‘New Era’, I didn’t know that one of the most powerful men on the planet is a metalhead. The half time entertainment is provided by the beautiful piano and voice ballad ‘Lonely Soul’ and the brief plaintive violin instrumental ‘The Seventh Gate’, it is lovely to have these interludes to stop you ears getting metal fatigue, an example other bands should follow. The second half is a different beast, or should I say beauty and the beast as it has a couple of growlers. The songs are darker and heavier, the notable exception being the melodic ‘Under the Shadow of a Butterfly’, and it ends with the everything including the kitchen sink ‘St. Michael’s Nightmare’. The first half is a worthy follow up to Epica’s ‘Consign to Oblivion’, however some songs in the second half will divide opinion, for heavy fans these will be their favourite tunes, while light fans will be reaching for the skip button on a couple of occasions. Their Myspace is www.myspace.com/diabulusinmusicaband and the secret is out at all good stockists. Ignoring the three heavier, more controversial numbers, there are still 8 cracking tunes, so it’s well worth 9/10 (Reviewed by Phil)

DYONISIS..'INTOXICATED'

(Independent Release) Reviewed 5th June 2010

Dyonisis featuring Nell on lead vox with additional vocals from Lousia, hail from the north of England. However, Nell I understand originally comes from a small riverside town not too far from Ravenheart HQ. 'Intoxicated' is their second full release, although not too long ago, they did release an EP (now sold out) of "musical waifs and strays!". I was quite taken by their debut offering that was reviewed 31st August 2007, and listening to that cd again just recently, kinda reminds me at times of a laid back Lahannya. 'Intoxicated' to be perfectly frank is another good release from this British band, offering 11 tracks of laid back synth infused gothic rock, with cool vocals and cool musicianship throughout. There is some good music by British artists coming my way at the moment, showcasing the strength of the underground British rock music movement, and Dyonisis is no exception. Check them out at http://www.myspace.com/dyonisis and then purchase this album. It is ideal to listen to on a perfect summer's day while getting intoxicated :) 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave)

DIMLIGHT..'OBTENEBRATION'

(Emotion Art) Reviewed 2nd June 2010

Let me shed some light on this debut from the Greek symphonic gothic metallers Dimlight and their art of darkness. After the terrifying intro that sent me scurrying behind the couch, there follows gripping, atmospheric, theatrical soundtracks to an aural vampire thriller (Obtenebration is a vampire supernatural power), with Darien’s dramatic keyboard motifs, Invoker’s spiralling guitar solos, and Sanna’s innocent voice juxtaposed with Invoker’s occasional evil growls, blood curdling screams and menacing whispers to terrific effect. Musically a mix of Hanging Doll (Sanna’s vocals remind me of Sally), early Epica, and a touch of Within Temptation/modern Nightwish mixed with gothic era Damned, I love the way that this has been constructed as a total listening experience with each track leading onto the next, the music, lyrics and artwork combining to create a complete package that will defy iPod downloaders. Highlights include their signature tune ‘Dimlight’, the mystical ‘Absence of Light’, the melodramatic ‘RID’ (you can see the video on the blog http://thefemalevoices.blogspot.com/) and the epic ‘Death Premonition’. The way this has been put together, with excellent production and sound, demonstrates remarkable ambition and imagination. To paraphrase the lustrous Sanna, in the absence of light only darkness prevails, follow me through this now to www.myspace.com/dimlightband (available at Metal Fighters, Nuclear Blast and other beacons of light), and never suffer again, a highly illuminating 9/10 (Reviewed by Phil)

EMBASSY OF SILENCE..'EUPHORIALIGHT'

(Supernova) Reviewed 20th May 2010

Embassy of Silence were born in 2007 as a coalition between dynamic singer Ines Lukkanen and the band Saattue, with Dotma’s keys player Harri Koskela soon jumping on board. Far from being a side project, EOS have taken on a life of their own and their ambition is demonstrated by the sheer time and effort put into this debut album, this is no demo recorded in someone’s bathroom, but sounds for all the world like a major label release. The foundations are a mix of Delain and Lacuna Coil, upon which they build their own identity, walls of warm fuzzy guitars, atmospheric keys, a hint of prog, a variety of tones and pallets, soaring melodies, a touch of melodrama, and Ines’s awesome voice, a mix of Charlotte Wessels, Cristina Scabbia and Carol King. Ines announces ‘let me suck the poison from your wound’, cripes!, and then we’re off into the maelstrom of the opening two numbers, ‘Soul-Broken’ and ‘I Ride Alone’, both dramatic, groovy and with those changes of pace that are their trademark. ‘Passion and Savagery’ takes it down a touch with it’s lovely reflective opening before the band crank it up, there is more than a little Pink Floyd in their music, and Tero Kalliomäki contributes some superb guitar solos. The creepy gothic melodrama ‘Baron Samedi’ shows their quirky side as it suddenly breaks into some spooky reggae like something out of the Adams Family; they really know how to mix it up to tremendous effect. ‘Absinthe Eyes, Opium Words’ (fantastic title) and ‘Deadline Playtime’ combine their softer side with powerful riffage to wonderful effect. Next up are a couple of gripping thrillers, ‘Catherine and Heathcliffe’ and ‘Maneater’ where Ines asks you over for ‘a nice Chianti and some fava beans’ before laughing manically, gulp! ‘Void’ and ‘The Mercury Lamp’ sound like Carol King gone metal; they really know how to write dramatic chord changes. Finally it ends with the rousing title song ‘Euphorialight’. Given the right push EOS could be massive; this is a mightily impressive debut that thanks to its commercial international sound, and the balance between melody and power, will appeal to all key markets and a broad church of metal and rock fans. Available at a range of musical stores, their Myspace can be found at www.myspace.com/embassyofsilence. I’ll award it a highly recommended 9/10 (Reviewed by Phil)

AREA 51..'DAEMONICUS' (2008) / 'GODDESS' (2010)

(Aprights) Reviewed 15th May 2010

Japan has been welcoming Western metal for decades, but despite having loads of their own outstanding bands such as Minstrelix, very few have escaped the confines of their own country. Setting out to do just that is Area 51 with their own brand of neo classical melodic metal, with their new album 'Goddess' being mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren, famed for his work with such luminaries as Opeth, Paradise Lost and Symphony X. They are a duo comprising guitar virtuoso Yoichiro Ishino, and delightful fashion icon Kate, who has an angelic but powerful voice, not too dissimilar in style to a higher register Sabine Edelsbacher. Area 51 is the secret USA air base where the Americans keep all their UFOs, which came in very useful in the film Independence Day. However, all us Trekkies know that it is in fact the place where Quark, Rom and Nog found themselves after being captured by the United States military after an accident sent them back in time to 1947 (Deep Space 9, ‘Little Green Men’). Looking at 'Daemonicus' first, this is filled with light bright power metalish rockers, together with the lovely rippling piano ballad ‘Venus Croix Eternal’, the superb melodic, symphonic, ‘Crimson’, and the pièce de résistance, the 16 minute epic ‘Lord Knows’, worth the price of admission on it’s own, featuring special guest Rob Rock who combines his English words with Kate’s Japanese (both albums are in their native tongue). Turning now to 'Goddess', this is packed with goodies, three cracking rockers, ‘Nightmare’, ‘Regret et Larme’, and the awesome ‘Sincerity’; a couple of dramatic Nightwish esque symphonic metallers, ‘Vanitas’ and ‘U Ta Ka Ta’; a splendid orchestral power ballad, ‘Miss You’; the wonderfully melodic almost Ayreon like ‘Begins of Dissolution’; and the outstanding pop metal ‘Marionette’. The sound on Daemonicus is excellent (mastered at the top Finnish studio, Finnvox), but you will have to go a long way to beat the production job done by Yolchiro Ishino and Jens Bogren on Goddess, the drum sound which is so often a gauge is wonderfully full and powerful, and You Yamauchi makes full use of it with his skilled, groovy drumming. Yoichiro can really shred, but the songs always come first, there is no showing off for the sake of it, and he manages to combine melody, tone and technique to sublime effect. If you like your metal light, bright and melodic, rather than a brain battering racket, then you will love these albums. Just in case you start googling Area 51 and the Meninblack turn up, their Myspace is www.myspace.com/area51web . Transport down to CD Baby and beam up these beauties, they’re out of this world. Daemonicus 8.5/10, Goddess 9/10. (Reviewed Phil)

CRYOSHELL..'CREEPING IN MY SOUL' EP

(Independent Release) Reviewed 10th May 2010

Cryoshell hail from Denmark, and it just belies belief the quality of music coming from that part of Europe, including Holland and the rest of Scandinavia. This review will be brief. Firstly, check out http://thefemalevoices.blogspot.com/ to view the video to the single 'Creeping In My Soul'. That will give you an idea as to the music on offer. This 5 track platter is totally awesome. How can I describe this? If I was to say 5 tracks of totally awesome pop/metal with more hooks than a Japanese whaling fleet. That should sum it up. I understand that there may be a full length album due to be released on May 25th, although only in their native Denmark I believe. This EP has to be heard and it can be downloaded from iTunes. I thank Phil for introducing me to this band and my Aimee for purchasing it from iTunes for me. 9.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave)

ANUBIS..'SIBUNA' (2007) / 'WAKING THE DEAD' (2010)

(Flying V Records) Reviewed 9th May 2010

It is no surprise that these folks from Wolverhampton want to escape to Egypt, Wolverhampton has just been voted by Lonely Planet the fifth worst city in the world! And just in case you’ve been fooled by the photo on the sleeve and started to plan a holiday, the city hasn’t got a genuine Egyptian obelisk; it’s an 18th folly on nearby Wychbury Hill – yes, it’s really that exciting in Wolverhampton. The first album fits the Egyptian imagery, there is a certain Middle Eastern flavour to the music, especially the instrumentals, but the songs and lyrics owe more to Europe than Egypt. The two main protagonists and singers are Sara ‘Isis’ Co’bern, who has a European gothic metal influence in her music, and Simon ‘The Pharaoh’ Lees, former guitarist with Budgie, with his British heavy metal style. There is eclectic mixture of songs and instrumentals, highlights include the Asia/Magnum like ‘Stalked by Shadows’, the rollicking rocker ‘Magic Carpet Ride’, both sung by Simon The Pharoah, together with three tunes sung by Isis Sarah, the exotic acoustic ‘Us’, the dramatic eastern influenced ‘Masquerade’ and the jazzy, flamenco flavoured ‘Your World Vampire Waltz’. The new album is far more song based and sees a sharper focus with Isis Sarah coming more to the fore, and those Egyptian tones are far more muted, both in the sleeve art and music. It almost equally divided between the two clearly discernable styles that alternate throughout the album, the gothic metal sung and written by Isis Sarah, and the more traditional heavy metal written by the lads in the band and sung by Simon The Pharaoh. Musically the fundamental difference is that British heavy metal is a distant descendant of the American blues, whereas the ancestors of gothic metal are European classical and folk music. Faves include the melodic metal of ‘Without Anaesthetic’, the anthem for all bored children on a long car journey, ‘Are We There Yet?’, and the lovely acoustic ballad ‘Hold Me Now’, all sung by Simon The Pharaoh, together with the atmospheric ‘Locked In’, the swing waltz ‘Above Water’ and the moody ‘Colourful’ sung by Isis Sarah. The group have obviously grown from an experimental project based on a fun idea to a fully fledged metal band. Simon shows that he has a strong rock voice as well as being a skilled axe wielder, while Sara gives the music a certain edge that lifts it out of the norm. If you enjoy either heavy metal and/or gothic metal you will love this, and will be sand dancing your way to their bazaar http://www.anubianmerch.co.uk/shop.html or walking like an Egyptian to Amazon, their Myspace is www.myspace.com/theanubisprojectuk. As the pharaoh to said to his mummy, that just about wraps it up, Sibuna 8/10, Waking the Dead 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Phil)

DEVA.. 'BETWEEN LIFE AND DREAMS'

(RNC Music / Orion’s Belt Records ) Reviewed 8th May 2010

Beautiful Beatrice Palumbo, a bona fide, classically trained opera diva, and guitarist/composer Federico Salerno created the concept behind Deva, to forge a unique union between classical music and progressive metal, which would appeal to fans of artists as diverse as Nightwish (metal), Dream Theatre (prog), and Katherine Jenkins (female opera). The multifaceted songs swirl between soft and heavy, light and shade, with their influences coming from other bands that also have a classical element in their music. At their most gentle, Renaissance springs to mind, especially with the lovely Myriam Stallone’s John Camp like grunting bass, together with a touch of Kate Bush, while at their heaviest bands like Therion and Epica are reference points, but with more emphasis on the four musicians rather than orchestral bombast. Their more prog moments recall a heavier Yes, Focus and Genesis, with excellent soloing from Federico and synthesist Marco Castiglione, but thankfully no noodling. They also remind me at times of Streams of Passion, Edenbridge and in particular Diablo Swing Orchestra, but without the craziness and Beatrice’s voice is a lot softer and easier on the ear than Annlouice’s, who can get a bit shrill. They are not as heavy and technical as Dream Theatre, but that is the beauty of female fronted metal, the triumph of melody over muscle. It is unfair to pick out faves, all the songs have so much to commend them, but I will mention the sublime chorus of ‘Your Voice’, the Renaissance-esque opening and awesome climax of ‘Out in Fog’, the dreamy delicate ‘Fading From Here’ that gradually grows in power, I love it when a band gets into a groove and takes flight, and the incredible four part ‘Karma’ suite that is simply breathtaking. That the musicianship is top drawer is a given, I must also mention Thomas D’Alba’s skilled drumming, and the production by the band is equally impressive, everything superbly recorded and mixed with crystal clarity. There is so much packed into each song that this is a real grower, every listen revealing a fresh nuance. If you love your prog then I risk being trampled underfoot in the rush to get to http://www.self.it/ita/details.php?nb=8019991871577 to grab a copy, but I also recommend that everyone should head to www.myspace.com/infodeva to experience Deva for themselves. 9/10 (Reviewed by Phil).

ANSOTICCA..'RISE'

(Rockfeld Records) PRE REVIEW (Sept Release) Reviewed 5th May 2010

Where do I start? Being influenced by such acts as Nightwish and Within Temptation is enough to arouse my interest in any band. And with AnsoticcA being endorsed by both Johan van Stratum (Stream of Passion) and Ruud Jolie (Within Temptation), I am sure the future looks rosy for this brilliant German-Dutch combo. The whole story started in 2008 in a small town close to Berlin, when Maarten de Vries (keys and programming) and Adrian Delborg (guitars) passionately locked themselves up to write music for a new Gothic Metal project. After some unsuccesful attempts regards finding a suitable vocalist, Maarten called Carie van Heden asking her to join the band. She did and the rest as they say is history. As for the music, I am gobsmacked. Kicking off with the wonderfully atmospheric and gothic instrumental 'A New Dawn', this then siegues perfectly into 'Endless Sacrifice', and I am immediately impressed. Great Within Temptation style choral backing to boot. Next up 'Heaven Burns' has me burning with excitement. Great riffs, great synths and a chorus to die for. I am in heaven alright. 'Rise' is a slightly slower song showcasing Carie's tremendous vocals and featuring epic orchestration & musicianship all round. 'I'm Alive', well I like the bagpipe intro to yet another spellbinding song, this album has everything! 'In Silence' kinda reminds me of Within Temptation (other tracks on this release do aswell), and is another epic song! 'Faces On Fire' is a heavy song that comes at you like a turbo charged express train, while 'Open Your Eyes' slows things down - awesome ballad with subtle use of Celtic pipes and another great chorus! This song is just the biz! Love it!! I am now totally speechless by the sheer quality on this album, as next up 'Our Times' oozes out of the speakers, so much emotion in this song and again great choral backing. 'Tears Of A Clown' (not the Smokey Robinson song) just maintains the sheer quality of this release. The brilliant trio of 'Open The Gates' , the slower 'Willing To Believe' and closer 'Weight of the World' finish this totally absorbing album. To summarise, we have some technically brilliant music here, epic bombastic scores combined with heavy guitars and a voice to die for. That's AnsoticcA, and if there is one album you buy this year, it must be this one, without a doubt! Check out www.myspace.com/ansoticca, and with the album getting released in September, this is already on course for being my album of the year. 10/10 (Reviewed by Dave)

COLLIDE..'THESE EYES BEFORE'

(Noiseplus Music) Reviewed 1st May 2010.

Collide is a music duo founded in 1992 in Los Angeles, that has incorporated elements of trip hop, darkwave, techno and music from the Middle East into their sound. 'These Eyes Before' is an album of cover versions, given the Collide treatment, and it is damn good too. I have always found KaRIN's vocals rather seductive to say the least, and this release is no exception. With songs like 'Nights in White Satin' (Moody Blues), 'Creep' (Radiohead), 'Space Oddity' (David Bowie) and 'Comfortably Numb' (Pink Floyd) being featured, Collide could be on a hiding to nothing by covering these classics. But KaRIN and Statik quite simply pull it off with ease. The 10 tracks are all faves of mine in their own right, and I have to be honest and say that before I listened to this album, I was a little wary. Not anymore...excellent stuff. 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

BEAUTIFUL THINGS..'DREAM WORLD'

(Summerside Records) Reviewed 29th April 2010

I have beautiful things to tell you, the pristine pop-rock debut from knee wobblingly gorgeous singer, songwriter and guitarist Dina D’Alessandro and her band, all the way from the City of the Angels (she has released two solo CD’s, but this is her first as Beautiful Things). The first thing that strikes you is the sheer quality of her song writing, she sounds like an established successful artist, such as Natalie Imbruglia, Dido, Alanis Morissette, and Sheryl Crow. The album starts with three stonewall classic pop-rock songs ‘Wonder Why’, ‘Hey Hey Hey’ and ‘Good To Me’ that ask for, no I’ll rephrase that, demand radio play, they are so catchy they stick like a limpet to your cranium, and won’t let go. She picks up the pace with the only cover; a version of Flock of Seagull’s (remember the hair style!) ‘Space Age Love Song’ which Dina makes her own, turning it into a cross between U2 and Simple Minds. The album continues in a similar vein with next three numbers, the moody driving ‘Back to Me Again’, the awesome ‘Astronaut’, and the toe tapping rocker ‘Everything’. Dina takes it down a touch for the next couple of tunes, The Band like Americana of title track ‘Dream World’ with it’s psychedelic pump organ, and the mellow, atmospheric ‘When the Night Comes Down’, with Dina’s The Edge style reverb laden guitar work. Finally we end on an upbeat but bittersweet note with the infectious ‘I Was Only Dreaming’. Forty minutes of pure pop-rock heaven, songs that will sound as good live as on the radio, a delightful pure voice, and a look that can stop traffic, Dina has all the ingredients for a massive future. And it’s easily available from CD Baby and her Myspace www.myspace.com/beautifulthingsmusic , so why not enter her Dream World. 9/10 (Reviewed by Phil Wooldridge).

ELA..'MAKE MY DAY'

(Rock Up Records Germany) Reviewed 25th April 2010

2004 was the year we first heard from ELA: Sony/BMG released ‘Out Of My Universe’, ELA’s debut CD under the band moniker Com`N`Rail. This was followed by numerous concerts, nationwide support shows in Germany – and then in 2006 the split between lead singer ELA and Com`N`Rail occurred. Fast forward to the present day, and 'Make My Day' is the second solo offering from German lass Ela, and all I can say is that if this record appeared in the 80's, it would have been a total smash. This is pure unadulterated 80's hard rock that has been dragged into the 21st century and given a modern makeover. The album also features guitarist JR Blackmore (son of guitar virtuoso Ritchie - a hero of mine) on one of the tracks (Out Of Time). Ela's awesome first solo album 'Passion' is a very good effort, a kinda Euro pop/rock affair. On this, her second release, Ela has upped the ante, and this is more of a Euro melodic hard rock/metal affair - huge on hooks and huge on melody! Opener 'Mad About Your Love' is kinda sexual..."I want your hands to touch my body, I want your lips to kiss my lips" Ela sings. And a chorus to die for too. Next song in, the slightly slower 'Who (Won't You Tell Me)" remains awesomely melodic with subtle hammond organ. Indeed, the hammond pops up on a couple of occasions through this album too. Overall, 'Make My Day' is chock full of melodic hard rockers and ballads - just check out the power ballad 'When Love's Gone' and the up tempo and melodic 'One Wish' and 'Right For The Devil' for confirmation. There are also three bonus tracks, two of which also feature on her debut 'Passion', including 'Out Of Time' (feat the aforementioned Mr Blackmore). This is a damn cool release from this attractive German girl, so get it!...9/10 (Reviewed by Dave)

DIVA SUICIDE..'SCARS'.

(Battered Vinyl Records) Reviewed 24th April 2010

Imagine Madonna, grab her by the short and curlies if you will, turn her into a metal maiden, and then you have Diva Suicide. Yep that's right, but also add adequate doses of electro rock and industrial metal into the mix. This London based outfit fronted by a lass who simply calls herself XS, are sure causing a stir with this, their 7 track debut cd. And I have not stopped playing it since it turned up at Ravenheart Towers. Their sound being inspired by The Birthday Massacre, HIM and 30 Seconds to Mars amongst others, and I must say this record has totally blown me away. This little release is so hideously catchy and is laden with hooks galore. Check them out at http://www.divasuicide.net. I am very impressed indeed! 9/10 (Reviewed by Dave)

ENORIA..S/T

(Self Release) Reviewed 11th April 2010

Enoria were formed in 2003 out of the ashes of the band Soulless by Fabrice (composer/drummer), Christophe (guitar/engineer) and Sylvain (keys/manager). They were joined by guitarist Pascal (guitar/artwork) and recorded a demo in 2005. Unhappy with the results and the then singer, they went into hibernation while Christophe built his own studio. Then they finally found the singer they were looking for in Marie and work started on this debut album. The results are atmospheric gothic metal in a similar vein to bands like The Gathering. Marie has a pure semi operatic voice (with occasional full operatics) that provides the perfect compliment to the music. I found similarities to bands like The Smiths where the melancholic vocals float and soar over the backdrop of guitar lines (not the normal chord riffage), but here you have the addition of Sylvain’s ethereal keys to ramp up the atmosphere. The music is mesmerising, deep and almost hypnotic, but always very melodic, and superbly produced and performed as you would expect by such experienced musos. Marie is joined at times by Fabrice’s bass voice, which shows you can be deep and menacing without resorting to growling. The quality is maintained throughout this collection of 12 songs (plus an outro); highlights include the dreamy ‘Spiral of Life’, the eerie ‘The Sentinel’, the dramatic ‘Between Two Worlds, the otherworldly ‘Eternal Sleep’, and the ominous ‘Ultimate Solution’. If you like your music melancholic, melodic, and mesmeric then this is a wonderful listen and can be easily purchased from CD Baby, for more info they can be found on their Myspace site, www.myspace.com/enoriaband. 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Phil)

DELIA..'SPOGAD (RECOLLECTION)

(ЯОК Music) Reviewed 10th April 2010

1. Lumen (Sub ala angeli) 2. I Will Always Wait 3. Forgotten Land 4. Otrada 5. New Time 6. Dead City 7. Find Me 8. Ghost 9. Tired 10. Autumn Melody 11. Limit 12. Your Name 13. Memories 14. Illusion (Bonus Track) 15. Melodia Otonala (Bonus Track)
Delia were formed in Kiev in 2005 and are proud to use their own native Ukrainian language and Cyrillic alphabet, so I had to put the song titles through Google translate so that I could read them. I hope it’s done a good job, I apologise in advance if I’ve got something slightly wrong. This album is packed with colossal, Within Temptationesque, symphonic metal songs, full of their very own choir, orchestral keys and soaring melodies, all with a huge production sound that still manages to give everything space to breathe. The adorable Anastasia has a staggeringly massive, deep rich voice, and when it’s mixed with their dramatic language, it makes each song a truly awesome experience. Every song is a humdinger, after the impressive choral intro comes the swaying ‘I Will Always Wait’ with lovely choir, the Eastern European flavoured ‘Forgotten Land’ which made me jump out of my seat, the orchestral and dramatic ‘Otrada’, ‘New Time’ with it’s spine tingling vocals, the gorgeous and emotionally charged power ballad ‘Find Me’, the rip roaring duo ‘Ghost’ and ‘Tired’, the spellbinding, syncopated ‘Autumn Melody’, the rampaging, synth laced ‘Limit’, the delicate ballad ‘Your Name’ with gentle piano arpeggios and plaintive violin, and finally the mighty ‘Memories’. There are a couple of bonus tracks, the thumping ‘Illusion’, and ‘Melodia Otonala’ which is an alternative version of ‘Autumn Melody’. ‘Dead City’ is dedicated to the memory of the city of Pripyat, its ex-citizens, and all people who suffered as a result of the Chernobyl disaster in 1986; you can see an English language video on their Myspace site, www.myspace.com/265243721 . It begins with the sound of children playing, broken by the chilling sound of sirens wailing, it really brought back the terror of that time. I found this whole album incredibly moving, one of the most beautiful listening experiences I have enjoyed since Silent Force. This is a must buy for all fans of the genre, and is available by contacting the band on delia@delia.kiev.ua , details are on their website, http://www.delia.com.ua/en/news.html 9.5/10 (Reviewed by Phil)

DARKSKY..'WHERE ANGELS HIDE'

(Self Release) Reviewed 8th April 2010

It has taken 13 long years and many changes of style and line-up for Francesco and Max Diblasio (guitar and keyboards) to finally realise their dream and release this, their debut album. Loosely you can call this gothic metal, but you have to add prog, blues and soul into the mix. Imagine, if you will, Dream Theatre deciding make an album of Lacuna Coil songs, with Joss Stone on vocals and guest appearances by Eric Clapton and Gary Numan, then you might be somewhere close, but they are hard to pin down, this is one album you cannot say ‘it sounds like such and such’. The delectable Alis Bos has got an awesome set of tonsils, I just mentioned Joss Stone, but thankfully without all that wailing. It’s gets off to a powerful symphonic start with ‘Memento’, featuring some Numanesque fat synths and prog flavoured diminutive chords, then the delicacy and power blend of ‘The Door’, a very commercial song with an excellent guitar solo. ‘The Colour of Dreams’ starts off like Eric Clapton (in rock mode) jamming with Pink Floyd, a really clever vocoder part then leads into a more powerful rocked up passage, with Alis showing just how passionate and emotional she can be. ‘A Way Out For The Sinner’ begins with portentous minor chords leading into another soulful and mighty song, with guest male vocals (clean) by Andea ‘Vidar’ Stefanelli, who also does an excellent job of mixing the album. ‘Lightstorm’ is moodier and heavier, counterpoised with the gentle Spanish guitar instrumental, ‘Peaceful Place’, I love these interludes that give your ears a rest, and it also gives Francesco a chance to show off his lightning skills on the guitar. ‘Lex Aeterna’ starts off like a ‘house’ number before the prog metal cuts in, it’s then a battle between the two before they unite and blow the cones off me speakers. Relative calm is restored with the outstanding and highly touching power ballad ‘The Last Rose’, with emotive lyrics and gorgeous synths. The album ends with the prog metal workout ‘Fatal Frame’. Those 13 years have obviously been well spent, creating a band that is unique, highly skilled and fully formed. The voice of Alis takes the band onto another level where they can really compete with the big boys. I can see this doing very well in the USA, indeed, unless I had been told, I would have guessed that they are American, not Italian. If you like your music powerful, soulful and skilful then they await your pleasure at their Myspace site, www.myspace.com/darkskyitaly, and copies can be purchased by messaging the band. A highly recommended 9/10 (Reviewed by Phil)

DEATHLIKE SILENCE..'SATURDAY NIGHT EVIL'

(Spinefarm) Reviewed 7th April 2010

I’ve unearthed a treat for you that is no trick, gravedigger metal from the land of the long sleep, Finland. If you think that this is going to be death metal, then you are howling up the wrong tomb, this is Nightwish meets NWOBHM (Maiden, Priest, Witchfinder, Diamond Head, Saxon, et al). The highlights of this particular monument to metal are the deep golden voice of the radiant Ms Maya and the keys of the surprisingly lively Mr. Lethargy. They even have a hearse they drive around in, when they turn up at a gig, they must give people quite a shock! You can bury yourself in eleven bone rattling melodic rock-metal tales of death and decay. There’s only space here to give you a skeleton outline, but the picks of the crypt are the Magnum like ‘Trapped in the Night’, the Keith Emerson organ fuelled ‘And You Cry’, the chugging ‘Who’s Gonna Bury Me’ and ‘The Headsman’, the anthemic ‘Dagon’ and ‘Till Death Tears Us Apart’, and the haunting ‘They’ll Eat Us’. The fright in the night is that they have dug up Mike Oldfield’s ‘Moonlight Shadow’ and reincarnated it as a rollicking rocker, a real rave from the grave. It’s on Spinefarm so there is no need to dig around for a copy, you should be able to spirit it away from the normal bodies. To be deadly serious, this is a killer album that you will be dying to get your bony hands on. 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Phil)

DAMAGE DONE..'STORIES NEVER TOLD'

(Pan-Vox) Reviewed 30th March 2010

This debut from the pen of Theodisis Chatzistergos and his band has had a long history, during the course of which they went from male to female fronted, so although most of the songs have the deep voice of Nick Rizikianos, it also has Georgia Konstantinou contributing lead and backing vocals, and if you saw the band today, L. Angel would be the front lady. The album has the feel of a ‘best of’ collection, cherry picking songs from a bands career representing different periods of their development. The first three songs see the band in gothic rock mode, influenced by The Mission, Fields of Nephilim, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Paradise Lost. After the instrumental ‘Grief’, they enter an alt rock phase for the next three tunes, inspired by bands like Kings of Leon and Nickelback, with Nick using a totally different higher voice, and Georgia coming to the fore. Iggy Pop then gets some Swiftcover, jumps into his car and smashes his way through the studio wall for the one off garage punk ‘Who Am I’ (it’s not really Mr. Osterberg, but you know what I mean). We then head into a Leonard Cohen style introspective period for the final two numbers with the gentle piano piece ‘All I Need is a Peace of Mind’ and the ‘All I Need is Some Time’ ballad. The unifying force is the superb production job, the whole album sounds like it was recorded in a cavernous concert hall, full of reverb, with a massive drum sound. This album is an outstanding collection of commercial rock songs, the sort of stuff that would go down a storm at Glastonbury, and with a settled line-up they really should go far. The digi-pak comes with three videos, and is available for just 12 euros from the band, check out their Myspace www.myspace.com/damagedonegr for more info. 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Phil)

DEADMANSWAKE..'IT COMES TO THIS'

(Independent Release) Reviewed 28th March 2010

Lock away your children and let's rock, to an awesome hard rock band from Chicago fronted by Kryssie Ridolfi. And this lass has such an awesome voice that is suited to this style of music, that I know we are onto a winner from track 1, that steamrollers it's way outta my speakers like a high speed train. This track 'Amy' is one of my faves, and we have barely got going, and this particular song being very personal to Kryssie. 'Back To Blood', keeps the pace up, this opening salvo being hard, heavy and they rock. Things slow down slightly for 'Far Be It From Me', a melodic number with a catchy chorus. 'Murder' picks it up again, and I am impressed with what I have heard so far. The album continues in a similar style, mainly hard rockers, with Kryssie's vocal performance awesome throughout. For further highlights check out 'Selfish' and the thundering 'Save Me'. This is Deadman's Wake's debut full length release, and I am very impressed. Worth checking out for anybody that likes their music hard, heavy and melodic. And I also wish to note that the band has also had a support slot with In This Moment ( a Ravenheart Music fave). I will now make a suggestion - surf your way to www.myspace.com/deadmanswakechicago and check out this offering of female fronted metal with balls. A good little release this....8/10 (Reviewed by Dave)

ANCIENT BARDS..'THE ALLIANCE OF THE KINGS'

(Limb Music) Reviewed 22nd March 2010

Hailing from Italy, that land of mighty metal, comes a new warrior force, unleashing upon us their Rhapsody style, anthemic symphonic power metal par excellence. The Black Crystal Sword can give almighty powers, and the dark wizard (that chap really gets about) has learned of its existence, hidden in a dark cave that can only be opened by the five weapons of the five kings. After the grand introduction you get eight heroic sagas (plus a brief choral piece) that gallop along at a cracking pace without getting silly, with loads of sing-along choruses to wave your sword to, as well as lots of fancy instrumental flourishes and interesting musical interludes, all superbly produced and performed. Bass players seldom gets a look in, but here Martino Garattonihe puts in some sensational fills, he can really twank that plank, he must have hands like an octopus. The gorgeous Sara Squadrani has a mighty warrior maiden voice that easily soars above the battle raging around her, and there is a magnificent choir to help her rouse the hoards. Every song is a winner full of wonderful melodies and variations in pace, but the highlights are ‘Lode al Padre’, with it’s lovely gentle beginning before it charges into another phenomenal chorus, and the closing epic ‘Faithful to Destiny’ with it’s stirring refrains. If you are a symphonic power metal fan then this will really get you joyfully waving your weapons about, and is available from all good merchants of musical mayhem. 9/10 (Reviewed by Phil)

EX LIBRIS.. 'AMYGDALA'

(Lympdead/Continental Record Services) Reviewed 21st March 2010

I discovered this Dutch bunch through researching Jobert Mello, the cover artist of Magion’s Close to Eternity, otherwise they would still be hiding in the musical undergrowth. Here, the sinister, haunting artwork welcomes you into the nightmarish, spine tingling world of these gothic proggers. They present within these bindings six mind boggling Nightwish/After Forever meets Dream Theatre/Opeth epics that combine the delicate and the brain battering, the subtle and the complex, the beautiful and the frightening, the ethereal and the thundering, and the calm and the raging. The delectable Dianne van Giersbergen has an outstanding pitch perfect operatic voice, but she does use other timbres as well, and there is no growling. Her lyrics are not for the faint hearted, ‘Dark faced blood drops, empty thy wall, Cursed but filled hate traps, rape the small’ (Breathe With Me), and when she sings ‘No matter the journey, Death becomes us all’ (….Out to Farewell) it is truly chilling. The amygdala is the part of the brain that processes emotions, and my amygdala was certainly working overtime listening to this. At the heart of the album is a two parter, ‘Sail….’ is a mesmerising combination of delicate acoustic guitars, ethereal vocals and keys player Koen Stam’s spoken words, it then grows in power, and as the thunder roars, it segues into the almighty raging storm of ‘….Out to Farewell’, a truly thrilling and terrifying piece of music. You might think that the final number, ‘The Day Our Paths End’ has finished and nip out to put the kettle on, but if you wait you get a lovely tranquil coda. Strangely the songs on the back cover are in the right order, but they are numbered 4, 5, 1, 6, 7, 1/2, 9, 11, could this be some sort of code? We need Robert Langdon on the case. There are some elements that are akin to other gothic metal bands, but there is so much more to Ex Libris, their operatic classical gothic prog is truly unique. They could have gone down the easy route and copied the proven, but they chose their own path, and they should command a lot of respect for that. If you are a prog metal fan then this is a must buy, but the more adventurous gothic, power and neo classical metal fans will also love it. This food for the brain and soul is easily available from Amazon and other fine stockists, and you can find out more at www.myspace.com/exlibrismetal. 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Phil).

FACES OF MARCH..'CONFESSIONS'

(Kurfew Records) Reviewed 18th March 2010

Straight from Miami comes this young up and coming rock foursome with their first album based around the theme of confessions and hidden truths. The fifth member is producer Paul Trust, and the result is immaculately polished, finely crafted, ultra commercial, driving gothic rock, in the mould of Evanescence, Lacuna Coil, Paramore and Delain, with the vocals of the stunning Gia giving a Natalie Imbruglia style infusion.
Picks for me include the string laced opener, ‘Not Enough’, the groovy electronica of ‘Broken, the piano ballad ‘Too Late’, which really launches off, the Nickelback like ‘Turn Around’, and the My Chemical Romance style ‘Wanna Be’, but there is not a filler in sight, and you are bound to have your own favourites.
The whole album screams radio play and heavy rotation on MTV, this has massive crossover potential, and the fact that they are still relatively unknown defies all logic. I have to confess I rather like this, and I believe you will want to own up to having a copy as well, so it’s easily available from their Myspace, www.myspace.com/facesofmarch. 9/10 (Reviewed by Phil)

AMARYLLIS..'INQUIETUM EST COR'

(Polskie Radio/decor) Reviewed 14th March 2010

Here’s a question for you, what do you get when you mix mediæval ecclesiastic music with modern prog rock? This is the poser that Marek Domagala, the founder of this Polish group, asked himself, and inside the rather lovely digi-pac lies the rather wondrous answers. Singer Ewa Domagala has a sublime and incredibly pure voice which perfectly suits the lyrics in Latin taken from original mediæval texts. The music is a blend of Pendragon, Arena, both very successful in Poland, Porcupine Tree, Renaissance, Yes and some Dream Theatre power. It is highly professionally produced with a skilled team of outstanding musicians, soaring and powerful electric guitars, delicate acoustic guitars, fancy bass runs, and marvellous keys. In between the songs are brief atmospheric passages with various sound effects, children, phones, helicopters, chimps, heartbeats, etc. The whole album is intended to be listened to as a complete piece of music, broken into bite sized chunks, whilst absorbing the superb artwork. The most amazing thing is how the two worlds, separated by centuries, meld together so naturally and easily, the results are melodically magical, and the quieter moments quite exquisite. If you like melodic prog rock then you will find yourself as astonished and as pleasantly surprised as me, a complete and utter joy and delight to listen to. Available from their equally beautifully designed websites, www.myspace.com/amaryllisprogressive and http://www.amaryllis.pl/. Just go and have a listen, you will be as captivated as me. 9/10 (Reviewed by Phil)

DYSTERA..'JOURNEY INTO THE SHADES',

(Self Release) Reviewed 5th March 2010

Dominik Geneto began his epic quest into the Symphonic Lands in 2006, calling to arms a courageous band of adventurers, lead by the fayre damsel, Melanie Schweizer. Darkness has been cast over the lands by the forces of evil, a brave knight must journey to a mysterious tower, where he will find the truth that will return light to the world. After the grand introduction, ‘The Tome’, comes eight humungous, speedy, symphonic power metal anthems, with Melanie’s folk singing and Daniel Bosshard’s lightning fluting giving a suitably mediæval flavour. This cavalry charge gallops along at a cracking pace, the BPM’s reach warp speed velocities at times. If there was an Olympic metal for double peddling, Toma Lachat would win it by a mile! I am surprised the band doesn’t spontaneously combust! They only let up the pace once, on ‘Hopeless’, and it ends with the orchestral outro ‘The Tower’, while they put Toma into an oxygen tent and get the fire extinguishers out on the smouldering remains of the equipment. Sadly, many mighty warriors fell on this epic quest, and Dominik was the sole survivor. But he has rallied a new army of brave knights, and Dystera are ready to march on to adventures anew! Fans of Rhapsody, Fairyland and DragonForce epic metal, mount thy noble steeds and hasten ye to www.myspace.com/dystera and pillage this golden hoard! 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Phil)

EMERALD MIND..'TALES OF SOVEENA'

(Self Release) Reviewed 3rd March 2010

The ravishing Russian beauty Svetlana Vysotskaya fronts this young power prog metal band from St. Petersburg. This has got to be some of the best operatic singing I have ever heard on a metal album, or indeed any album, Svetlana really is a match for Tarja, Simone Simons and Katherine Jenkins, she is pitch perfect and her diction is precise and crystal clear. The songs, with lyrics based on various real stories and folk tales, thunder along like the Flying Dutchman on a storm tossed sea, but they are at their best when they calm and just let Svetlana shine, like on their finest number, the duet ‘Sweet Poison’. If they can turn and tone the guitars down and up the symphonic keyboards, to provide a rich luxurious backdrop, and concentrate on creating songs that simply showcase the band’s greatest asset, Svetlana’s voice, then they could have a massive future. Fans of Nightwish, Therion and power metal can download this for free or buy the CD from their website http://www.emeraldmindband.com/en/merch and just listen to that voice, yep just listen to that voice, amazing. 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Phil)

DYING PASSION..'ABSORB'

(Redblack Productions) Reviewed 2nd March 2010

If you want a band that fuses beautiful melodies, urgent guitars with poignant keyboard parts, to form an untypical mix of 70's psychadely, modern alternative rock energy with gothic doom melancholy, then look no further folks. Dying Passion hail from The Czech Republic and have released four cds prior to this little offering. I have the previous cd, 'Relief' that I obtained a year or so ago, and that certainly aroused my interest in this band. Now we have 'Absorb' that to me is another awesome release from this Czech outfit. A totally absorbing (excuse the pun!) album to my ears that should do amazingly well if put to a wider audience. 'A Silent Witness' gets things underway and that track sums up the kinda music this band offers the listener, while next in, 'Questions' is a slower ballady type song. The vocals are handled by ZuZa who kinda reminds me of Marianne Faithfull at times. Her vocals, well are spine tingling to say the least. A song that certainly has wide appeal I would think is 'Give', what a catchy little number this is. There is little I can find to fault with 'Absorb'. The standard of musicanship is high, the vocals of ZuZa are totally amazing as are the songs on offer. This record is a grand find and has to be worth tracking down if you can, so give their myspace a try at www.myspace.com/dyingpassionmusic first. Go on, you know you should, 9/10 (Reviewed by Dave)

There are stacks more reviews (from 2006 til Feb 2010) at http://www.ravenheartarchives.com. Check em out!