INFOS : webzine@femmemetalwebzine.net
Webzine dedicated to the metal band fronted by girls. We also like ambient,darkwave,rock & electronic music.
INFOS : webzine@femmemetalwebzine.net
Webzine dedicated to the metal band fronted by girls. We also like ambient,darkwave,rock & electronic music.
Interview by Scott Johnson
Doom metal, the side of music that expresses the deepest of human sadness and despair. We all have been there and we all can relate to these feelings. What better way to express this side of the human heart than to incorporate these feelings with the powerful driving rhythms of metal. Since the mid- 90’s Weeping Silence has been showing us how doom metal should be done. The driving heavy guitar riffs mixed with the ghost-like vocals and keyboards set the mood for anyone who has suffered from the pain of loss and hopelessness. I had the pleasure of talking to Rachel Grech of Weeping Silence. Join me now as we enter the Theatre of Life.
Hello Rachel, it is so very nice to have you here at Femme Metal Webzine today. First of all I would like to say thank you for your time and it is my honour to have this chance to talk to you. So if someone walked up to you and said I really like Weeping Silence but I don’t know anything about them what would you say. How would you describe the music of Weeping Silence and what would you tell them about your music?
First of all thank you so much for this interview Scott! It’s a pleasure. Well, if someone came up to me and said that they really liked Weeping Silence it would be awesome! Let me tell you a little about us. There are seven of us in the band; Angelo on drums, Sean on bass, Manuel and Mario on guitars, Alison on keyboards, Joseph on growls and myself vocals. Although the band started off playing mainly atmospheric doom metal, our style has now evolved into what could be described as atmospheric, gothic metal with doom influences.
What subjects does Weeping Silence as a band like to write songs about?
Well, up until recently I wrote most of the lyrics. I think I tend to write about feelings that are most predominant at the time. The experiences one passes through in life are reflected lyrically. Hopefully, this is also something that others can relate to.
Do you think it is a challenge to write songs of such great sadness and hurting and do you ever have a hard time singing them on stage? I have often wondered how a singer could sing songs about very personal topics and not revisit the pain from those moments and it would be hard to sing them live.
Music is such a wonderful means of expression and I find it is a coping mechanism which helps you deal with sad experiences and things in life which are not easy to comprehend. With regards to singing them on stage, yes, you do revisit the pain however this brings out more emotion. Dealing with these emotions helps you grow stronger too. Perhaps this I can explain better with “Tell Me Why” from our album “End of an Era”. On the other hand, “Theatre of Life” is more up-tempo and lends itself well to live performance. The new material is more aggressive than “Theatre of Life”. Joe joined the band on vocals too, so I’m not alone up front anymore.
So how many albums does Weeping Silence have?
There was a demo EP way back before we became a FFM band. Then the first album was “End of an Era” followed by “Theatre of Life”. There is another album in the making too!
Can you tell us about the new material that Weeping Silence started recording this year?
Well, the new songs have more of a doom inclination and are more aggressive. Joe joined as growler and this gave us the opportunity to compose songs that allow for interaction between lyrical characters. The music has grown more dynamic I think and we are moving forward into the style with a more contemporary feel. We’re pleased that Anders Jacobsson of Draconian will feature as guest vocalist on two songs also. The album is being produced by Brett Caldas-Lima of Tower Studios (France).
Is there a title for the new album?
Well there is a draft title, which is not official. We wish to listen to the album after the mastering process before deciding on a definite title.
I read that there will be the use of male backing vocals. Are they clean vocals or growls?
Joe’s a growler. He sings on all the eight songs that will feature on the upcoming album. There will also be an intro to the album that I only sing on. Anders features as growler on the songs “Love Lies Bleeding” and “The Search Within”.
What made Weeping Silence choose the doom metal style of metal?
Doom metal has an emotional aspect that differs from many other styles of metal. The lyrical experience hits to the core of human nature and gives space for hope too. The band members are also into all sorts of doom styles and therefore it was evident that the doom style would infiltrate into the musical compositions.
Who are your music influences and what kind of music do you listen too? What could we find on you MP3 player?
Ah, this is hard. Many of the guys listen to Opeth, Draconian, Anathema, Katatonia and so many others. I like listening to all melodic female metal bands. At present I have Within Temptation, Paradise Lost, Therion, Ozzy and Adele amongst others on my Mp4.
Did you grow up around music? When did you start singing?
Well, my parents were into Pink Floyd and a lot of other classic rock, we always had music playing at home. I remember singing to “All About Eve” over and over again! My brother introduced me to metal and we used to club together and buy albums such as Queensryche, Yngwie Malmsteen, Joe Satriani, Doro and others. Sadly he passed away in 2001 and our album ‘End of an Era’ is dedicated to him.
Where did you have your training?
I was always singing at home but I started singing in public later in life. I never had any formal training however I’ve picked up things along the way from various choirs etc.
Do you think it makes a difference being a male or female in the music business? What has been your experience?
Hmm, I suppose it does. Some people just do not consider female fronted bands but then on the other hand you get support from female oriented organisations such as this one. I was the first metal female vocalist in Malta and it was quite daunting in the beginning. Although I get so much support from all the other members and we work together well as a team.
What advise would you give to a female musician that is just starting out in the music business?
Don’t be afraid to get out there. Work hard but most importantly remember to enjoy every bit
Can you tell us some of the places that Weeping Silence has played shows at?
We have played mostly local concerts and festivals, including the Extreme Metal Assault in 2011 and the Malta Doom Metal Fest some years ago. This summer we played with The Shiver from Italy too. We have also played gigs in Manchester, Birmingham and Bradford. Appearances are planned for 2012 in Italy and Ukraine’s Doom Over Kiev Festival too … … hopefully others.
What are some of your favourite memories while being in Weeping Silence? Do you have any good road trip stories for us?
Oh my goodness! Yes, there are quite a few but most are too embarrassing to talk about here!!
Do you think it is hard being on the road with a bunch of stinky males? Does it help you to have Alison as a travelling companion?
Ah, it’s not that bad, I think I must have built up an immunity by being stuck in our rehearsal room (which is not that large) during the sweltering hot summer months. And it’s great to have Alison for some female back-up!
Is there a tour planned yet or is it still to early to say?
It is too early to talk about tours for 2012. However, there are a few dates being planned in Italy for sure, which might take the form of a mini-tour… we’ll see! We’d love to play in Germany and The Netherlands, so hopefully we will make our way there someday soon!!
Ok, so looking through the eyes of a most passionate fan of metal, what would you say your greatest fan moment has been so far? Who are some of your personal music heroes that you have met?
Well it was awesome to see Paradise Lost here this summer as I am a big fan. Also we played with To-Mera in the UK. My personal music heroes are Sharon Den Adel, Simone Simons, Sarah Jezebel Deva to name a few, but sadly I have yet to meet any of them. Perhaps my luck will change. You never know eh?!
And one last question for you. This is a fun one. Ok so if Weeping Silence were a comic book, what would the title be??
Well we’re too many people to be a comic book. I think we’re more of a film-compatible bunch. So, I’ll challenge you on the comic book parody and say “What Dreams May Come” the 1998 Robin Williams film based on the novel. Yeah I guess that film sums us up well. We have worked so hard for so long and we were always pushed by a wish to do something worth a listen in the metal scene.
I have really enjoyed our time together and before we close, do you have anything that you would like to add?
Thank you so much for this opportunity Scott, I hope you and the readers of Femme Metal Webzine will enjoy listening to our music. Please visit our websites/pages and leave some feedback, we would love to hear from you! Look out for our next release and of course. Stay metal!!
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Independent Release
Review By Tony Cannella
From The Netherlands, Alantia play good symphonic power metal with operatic vocals provided by Yvette. The bands new demo has just been made available and it is this style that dominates the 6-songs and over 30-minutes worth of music. “Solitary Life” is a strong opener that starts off slow but quickly builds and is followed by another powerful track “To Your Demise”. The vocals of Yvette are well done as she gives her operatic all throughout the course of the Demo. One of my favorite things about the music featured here is the cool interplay between the keyboards (played by Erik) and the guitar. The guitar duo of Markus and Tom make a formidable pair and keyboardist Erik has some moments where he is allowed to shine as well. The 7-minute third track “Echoes of Perdition” is without a doubt, a huge highlight for me. The overall vibe of the track is dark and atmospheric and it includes some great, heavy guitar riffs. This track is the only one to feature male, growling vocals which adds to the sinister nature of the track. The final track “Deceit” quickly became another favorite. The song is highlighted by some great guitar solos that bring the CD to a close.Alantia has recorded a demo that showcases the bands strong musicianship. The 6-songs contained here should be a welcomed sight for fans of Tarja era Nightwish and Sonata Arctica, still there is plenty here that should set the band a part from the crowded symphonic power metal pack.
Rating - 75/100
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Independent Release
Review By Tony Cannella
From Malta, Weeping Silence plays symphonic power metal with goth and doom undertones. In 2008, the band released their full-length debut, “End of an Era”, now Weeping Silence are back with a new 4-song, 25-minute promo CD. The 4-songs contained on the promo CD feature sweeping, epic arrangements and intricately played musicianship. Rachel Grech leads the way with her strong and clear vocal style.The opener, “Promises Broken” begins with a heavy riff and develops into a mid-paced tempo of an opener and immediately the full scope of this talented band is on display. Lead vocalist, Rachel Grech has a nice range as her vocals soar over the excellent musicianship.“Dark Waters” and “Within White Walls” are exceptional as well. The final track, “Innocent Cries” is over 7-minutes long and it brings the CD to a rousing conclusion. I have never been familiar with Weeping Silence prior to hearing this excellent promo CD but now I am a fan. With their promo CD, Weeping Silence combines all of the elements that I look for in a band. I am sure that Weeping Silence will appeal to fans of the symphonic power metal genre. At only 25-minutes long the CD is all too short, but it definitely serves its purpose in getting fans excited for the next full-length from Weeping Silence.
Rating - 90/100
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Label: Musica Productions
Review by Tony Cannella
If you like female fronted symphonic metal ala Delain or Tarja era Nightwish, than Russia’s Narwhal Tusk should be right up your alley. The band formed in 2006 and after releasing an EP (“Widow’s Walk”) in 2009 has issued their full-length debut “In Despair”, and here it is. I have not heard their initial EP, but they consist of 5-songs that all appear on this debut, in re-recorded form, I imagine. Narwhal Tusk is very good at what they do and should secure a fan base in the symphonic metal genre. In singer Valentina Yastremskaya the band has a very competent front woman with an operatic style and the music has a melancholic, orchestral vibe to it, which, at times is quite beautiful. The piano/violin dominated opener “Waltz (As Autumn Falls)” serves its purpose as a useful intro track and leads into the bombastic and the up-tempo “Mourning Purple”. “Everfall” is next and keeps a steady pace and features the clean male and Valentina’s operatic vocals performing the song as a duet. The male vocals are very well done; the style is clean throughout and provides solid support to Valentina’s operatic approach. “Nova” is next and has a very accessible quality to it; it would make a great single/video (in my opinion) if the band chooses to release one. “In Despair, Pt. 1” is mournful and features some top-notch vocal work from Valentina. “My Angel” ventures closely into “Oceanborn” era Nightwish territory, and features a cool prog rock style keyboard bit in the middle of the track. “Walking over Waters of the Ocean” is a piano-laden ballad featuring healthy doses of orchestration. The over 7-minutes long “In Despair, Pt. 2” wraps things up nicely. The male vocals and orchestration dominate this track. It also ends things on a rather doomy and sorrowful note. With “In Despair”, Narwhal Tusk has released a very good contribution to the ever crowded symphonic metal genre. With so many bands it has become increasingly harder to stand out from the pack. Time will tell if this talented Russian band has what it takes.
Rating - 78/100
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Review By Tony Cannella
In 2008, the Dutch symphonic metal band Magion released their first demo. The band have already finished their full-length debut, which is called “Close to Eternity” and at the moment are looking for a suitable label in which to released it on. Until that album is set to be unleashed Magion has released this 3-song, 20-minute promo CD, which should come as a nice little pre-cursor of what to expect on “Close to Eternity” once it is released. The three songs on the EP, are all over the 6-minute mark and features plenty of top-notch musicianship. The opening number “Greed” get the proceedings off to an especially bombastic start as the dramatic and operatic vocals of the very talented frontwoman Myrthe van Beest come in. This song features a few changes in tempo throughout the course of the track. Next is “Forever Mine” and at 7-minutes it is the longest song presented here. It begins with some piano, before the rest of the band joins in, this song has a dramatic conceptual flavor with more stellar vocals from Myrthe. Again there are more tempo changes, giving their songs a definite progressive flavor to them. The final song, “War of Hearts” has a sinister, ominous quality to it. This is my favorite of the three songs and it definitely sees Magion firing on all cylinders here. A great way to end this all-too-short CD. The 3-songs presented here are very well done and have a professional quality to the presentation and overall sound. If this is what we can look forward to on “Close to Eternity”, than I am sure it will be worth the wait. Hopefully the band will get signed soon, and it will be well deserved. This band should definitely be well received by fans of Tarja-era Nightwish and After Forever, or if you just like symphonic metal, with female operatic vocals than give Magion a listen.
Rating - 90/100
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Independent Release
Review By Tony Cannella
Lust for Oblivion is a female fronted band from Italy who specialize in Gothic, operatic and symphonic metal. Their first introduction to the metal world comes with their new demo, that goes by the title of “Black Moon”. The band is led by the immense operatic vocal talents of Chiara Tricarico and rounded out by a number of capable musicians. The EP contains 4-songs that were written by Chiara (lyrics) and keyboardist Alessandro Mantovani (music) and just 21-minutes worth of music.The EP kicks off with the sound of church-like organs as the opening number “Black Moon” kicks in. A pretty solid way to begin things with some steady musicianship, a cool guitar solo by Andrea Boglio and the dramatic, opera style vocals of Chiara. “Blank Darkness” is next and is probably my favorite of the four songs that are presented here. Musically, it is probably one of the more commercially accessible songs on the CD and just a very good number. “Lady of the Ocean” is next and and it continues on with the solid material, while bringing the tempo down a little bit. A beautiful ballad that showcases another dimension to the band. Chiara also delivers a superb vocal performance on this one - her vocals are pretty cool throughout this disc, but they really stand out on this one. The production is very good and professional, and that is another check in the positive column for this CD. “Freedom Call” is the final track and one of the heavier ones offered. It features a rock solid guitar riff and brings “Black Moon” to a completely satisfying bombastic conclusion. Each song on this debut showcase a different facet to the band and the diversity they’re capable off.“Black Moon” is a very good debut EP from this cool Italian band. Maybe a bit too short, but it definitely wets the appetite for some more music from Lust For Oblivion. Fans who miss the Tarja version of Nightwish would be well advised to check this band out, or if you just like female fronted, symphonic metal, check this band out. Just check this band out, “Black Moon” is 21-minutes well spent.
Rating - 85/100
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Independent Release
Review By Tony Cannella
Introducing Russia’s Emerald Mind. On their 9-song 48-minute debut titled “Tales of Soveena”, you get a solid slice of Symphonic Power Metal that is full of elite musicianship and the wailing operatic vocals of Svetlana Vysotskaya, which are really quite impressive. Although Svetlana is the front person and her vocals help to carry “Tales of Soveena” you can not discount the contributions of the other musicians in Emerald Mind - they are all well accounted for to help give “Tales of Soveena” a complete feel. The opening track “The Ripper” gets things off and running in a big way and is a definite highlight. From there the band are only getting warmed up as you can hear on the following tracks “The Flying Dutchman”, “Winter” and “This Dying World”. Among the strong material present here, I would have to say that my favorite track is the 9-minute album closer “Lyric of My Soul”. Just a great epic number that features various tempo changes and the stellar musicianship that makes “Tales of Soveena” such an enjoyable and interesting listen. Overall, I would say that Emerald Mind have acquitted themselves quite well on their debut. Svetlana Vysotskaya could be one of the bright new stars to emerge from the Symphonic Power Metal world in 2010, but it is the cohesion and chemistry of the band that help to make “Tales of Soveena” such a good release. If you are missing the Tarja era Nightwish or if you just want to hear some great music than you should turn your attention to this great new Russian band.
Rating - 85/100
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Label : Sleazy Rider Records
Review by Tony Cannella
Rating - 88/100
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