2013 Updates and Brief Reviews

[Jonny B]

Haven't been able to get on the forums due to a 'malware warning' that seems to have been fixed.

I have a couple updates to start, but I've been busy with work, so reviews will have to wait.

I learned (and to my excited surprise) that Tacere has returned! They released a new album 'World's End' late last year. New keyboardist and new female singer, but the follow-up is almost as good as their debut, and considering how lackluster the music of 2012 was in the female rock world, this is a welcome addition. Very happy to see them back.

Lullacry will be releasing a new single this week. 'To Every Heartache' will be out tomorrow 2/13. Their last album was a little disappointing so I'm hoping for better things now that they've shaken the rust off.

And I also recently got the debut album from Vandroya entitled 'One.' Have yet to give it a listen.

[Jonny B]

New single by Lullacry on the front page of their site:

http://www.lullacry.com/

Excellent ballad. This is the Lullacry I expected on the comeback album. This is a good sign of things to come.

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In addition, the new Amaranthe single 'The Nexus' is also out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxOybZcRXhI

My honest opinion? It's cool they're sticking to the formula that worked so well. But if given the option, I'd still get rid of the screamer and reduce the amount of falsetto the singers use (or at least make the falsettos ballsier ala 80's-style so that they don't sound so power-popish.) They're so much better when they sing clean vocals.

[Jonny B]

Still too busy to review anything, but I've got some updates and a few quick opinions.

Delain will be releasing a new album 'Interlude' this Spring (No US release date yet.) Consists of 2 new studio tracks, 3 cover songs, several live tracks, and a bonus live DVD.

New Visions of Atlantis album 'Ethera' out later this month. Strangely, Maxi Nil, unlike past female singers in VoA, actually lasted long enough in the band to do a second album, a first for this group. I'm hoping it'll be an improvement over the abysmal 'Delta' album.

Within Temptation has announced a new tour in 2014, and are in the studio working on a new album. I'm hoping, that based on the plethora of cover songs they did for a radio station last year, that they'll return, at least a little bit, to the classic 'Mother Earth/Silent Force' style.

Amaranthe announced a late-March release for their new album.

Edenbridge's new album 'The Bonding' is slated for a Summer/Early Fall release.

I have 3 newcomers in the wings for at least a brief review (Vandroya, Envinya, Edge of Attack,) but will have to wait until I have more time. Work is frigging killing me. But my first impressions...all three have their flaws, but were solid enough to merit they can improve and make solid sophomore albums in the future.

[Soloud]

Serenity has added a female vocalist as a full member. The teaser trailer for the new release sounds promising

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?m ... mID=187123

[Jonny B]

Serenity has added a female vocalist as a full member. The teaser trailer for the new release sounds promising

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?m ... mID=187123

Those guys are really good. Can't wait to check out the next album.

[Jonny B]

Just learned that over the course of last year, Amberian Dawn pulled a Nightwish, right when they were peaking. Operatic singer Heidi Parvianien called it quits and went on to do a solo project. Like Tarja, the samples I've heard from her upcoming solo album are not as good as what she's left behind.

Meanwhile, Amberian Dawn did something that I was surprised Nightwish never thought of: Re-recording the best songs of their past discography with Capri, their new singer. As of now, they have a samples video up which can be here here:

http://www.amberiandawn.com/announcing- ... ion-album1

Though trained in classical vocals, Capri sings a lot cleaner, and gives Amberian Dawn a more commercial edge. I got chills just hearing the vocal harmonies on the sample of 'Cold Kiss.'

Final thoughts: Watch out for Amberian Dawn in the near-future. They gonna have a breakout album in the next few years.

The compilation album 'Re-Evolution' will be out later this year.

[Jonny B]

I wish my ambition to write reviews was as high as the plethora of new releases that have come out this year as of so far. 2013 is shaping out to be another 'Year of the Newcomer.' I've got at least 8 albums on the slate for listening and 5 of them are debuts. One thing holding me back is a broken iPod. So my music capacities is limited to sitting down at the computer, which I only do to check e-mail and Facebook.

Not sure if it's a social issue, but I know what I like for music, and what I don't like, and so it's just easier to point out where improvements can be made and pointing out when a band is doing a lot of things right or wrong. It's just easier this way than to write reviews. I'll save the detailed reviews for albums that I'm looking the most forward to. I think this would be the best way to go for 2013.

I do have 3 Quickies for now. Hope to do more when time allows. I hate my work schedules.

Vandroya 'One'
When you hear the opening track 'The Last Free Land,' one thinks this is gonna be a by-the-numbers power metal album. But then the comparison is gone henceforth. Vandroya's style reminds me of the progressive lines of Ivory Tower, where they don't really follow a song structure, but they don't try to cram a thousand notes at the same time either. Plus, most songs, regardless of musical tangents, are held together by memorable choruses. This is prog done right. Being different but without making the listener confused. Decent debut album.

Visions of Atlantis 'Ethera'
It's a first for VoA, they released a second album with the same singer. But I don't know if this is a good thing, because I thought 'Delta' suffered greatly at the expense of Maxi Nil. But thankfully with 'Ethera' her vocals have improved greatly. But the ongoing problem is the same as before. Her vocals clash with Mario Plank's. When they take turns, it's pretty good. But when singing together they're still off-key, and it makes the album difficult to listen to. In addition, there aren't too many standout songs, so they seem to have chosen to play it safe once again. No heart-pounding power metal anthems that were once a common thing on 'Trinity.' Ironically, the best track, a ballad called 'Cave Behind the Waterfall' is also the only track where there's no duel vocals, all Maxi Nil. Might be something worth exploring for future albums if the two of them can't at least sing on-key together.

Envinya 'Inner Silence'
Now THIS is what I'm talking about. An excellent power metal/melodic metal debut that doesn't leave anything on the table. Excellent vocals (think Stratovarius with a frontwoman,) big chorus hooks, but while still leaving room for improvement (They'll be elite if they can connect their verses to the choruses a little better. But room for improvement is always good for a debut.) They do use a few grunts, but it's definitely not a primary vocal and is very tolerable compared to the music they have to offer. Instead of continuing with this brief review, I'll finish by stating Envinya will be on my 'contender' list for 2013, and will post a song and let it speak for itself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On8Fyrb9CWQ

[Jonny B]

Couple more quickies today. More mixed opinions.

Amaranthe 'The Nexus'
One step forward, two steps back. The step forward: The screamer doesn't lead off on as many songs, making the album, as a whole, more tolerable. Step back #1: The screamer wasn't eliminated completely (what can I say? I will NEVER like screamers.) Step back #2: 'Burn With Me.' This power-pop style of vocal and melody has killed North American music in the past 10 years, and I BEG my European counterparts to please NEVER sell out to this style....Other than that...this is Amaranthe as heard on the debut. Fast, heavy, and chock full of big rock anthem choruses, hooks, and crazy guitar solos. The bonus tracks are worthless. Acoustic versions of 'Burn With Me' (The worst track gets worser...) and 'Hunger' (the acoustic version sucked the life out of this song.)

MindMaze 'Mask of Lies'
I didn't think it was possible...an American female rock band that isn't Power-Pop! And, it's an American female rock band that isn't Screamo! At first I thought I'd be copying and pasting the Vandroya review when I mention the opening track 'Never Look Back' is power-metal by the numbers. But then, the group shows its true nature. Although MindMaze is placed under the 'progressive' category, but they're more of a straight-forward guitar-driven 80's rock group. By-the-numbers kind of deal. No huge rock anthems, but very solid songs start-to-finish. The only questionable track is the epic track 'Dark City,' the one track that possibly put them in that 'prog' category, but is the least consistent of the songs. Overall, If you're desperate for a clean-vocal female hard rock album from the US, this is your band.

...

And one quick news update. Tristania announced a new album ('Darkest White') slated for early summer....'Rubicon' was definitely a step forward compared to all of their previous work, with quite a few listener-friendly songs and a sudden presence of strong duel male/female vocals that would give Lacuna Coil a run for their money. If they continue to cater to this new-found strength on the vocals and take another step forward on listener-friendly gothic tunes, this could be a sleeper pick for 2013.

[Jonny B]

Lovelorn Dolls "The House of Wonders"
I've been completely frustrated with the Gothic scene. Bands are either going complete sell-out mainstream with no hint of the gothic sound, or they're reverting back to the non-commercial ways, devoid of any memorable melodies and hooks. There are so few groups left who remain in perfect balance between mainstream and the gothic sound....And then there's another type of goth where the Lovelorn Dolls fall under. They tease with a few commercial-sounding melodies, but are hell-bent on choruses that are completely devoid of hooks to give the illusion that they don't sound mainstream (A style that The Birthday Massacre has made a career of.) 'Purple' is the best example of all the tracks. You're waiting for that big chorus hook to put the song over the top...only it never happens. This theme persists throughout the album....I'll pass.

Serenity 'War of Ages'
It's no secret, as far as bands outside of the female rock world go, I'm very fussy. There are tens of thousands of male-fronted metal groups, and so unless a band of this type is writing songs that are spectacular and stand above the rest of the filler, I'll pass on it. That said, Serenity falls under that category of standing above the clutter. They've written 3 solid albums in the symphonic/melodic metal genre during a time where the genre has shown little change in the past years. And now that they've added a full-time female singer in Clemintine Delauney (She gets a few lead roles but she still plays primarily a back-up role,) I can now add Serenity to the bands I review here. While as there are some excellent tracks that show Serenity at it's finest (Wings of Madness, Shining Oasis, For Freedom's Sake,) I think the songwriting took a tiny step back overall (and I mean a VERY TINY step, I just like the previous albums more.) Regardless, the latest slice of Serenity is still very good and worth checking out if you're an established fan or even a newcomer.

Edge of Attack "S/T"
A combination of power metal, thrash metal, and hard rock, not really settling on any specific style song-to-song, primarily guitar driven, with a diverse set of vocal styles. (which, sigh, includes a little Screamo. ) I've included a link to one of their music videos, 'Forever,' which sums up just about every vocal and musical style that comes in various forms throughout their debut. It's a little easier than dissecting it and being nit-picky.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yL1diclz8tM

[Jonny B]

Within Temptation in the past year had been writing cover versions for a radio station called QMusic. They've announced there will be a cd release for mid/late April of a compilation of the best of these QMusic covers. While as I have no idea who these artists/groups are that WT was covering, the cover versions were fairly decent, like a continuation of 'An Acoustic Night at the Theatre.' I'm hoping the more laid-back atmosphere of these covers is a sign that WT will revert a little back to their classic Mother Earth/Silent Force sound. They did mainstream fairly well, but I still miss the older style.

[Jonny B]

New Sirenia album will be out at the end of June. Full news here:

http://www.nuclearblast.com/en/music/ba ... -blue.html

There is no other album release I'm anticipating more this year. I hope they continue to find the perfect balance between the artistic and commercial sides of gothic rock. If they continue to focus on the diversity of vocal styles, I expect another win.