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.
Label : Pervade Productions/Thundering Records
Review by Tony Cannella
France’s Syrens Call has a long history that began in the late 90s. They play melodic Progressive Metal filled with rich harmonies and melodies, all of which can be heard on their just released third mega-opus, “Raging Waters”. “Raging Waters” kicks off with the pounding, up-beat “Hang On to Life”. Syrens Call manages to write great songs that should please the progressive crowd while still managing to incorporate a classy commercial appeal to the songs. Highlights include: “I’m Your Only One”, “Ashes of Destiny”, “Perfidious Paradise”, the haunting “Never Come Back Home” and “Desecrated Past” which starts of as a ballad and quickly picks up the tempo as the song progresses. The Coup de grace is the final track, the epic musically bombastic over 13-minute “The Dance of Light”. This is just a wonderfully, huge way to end things that really left me wanting more. I love progressive music as much as the next guy but Syrens Call manages to avoid the traps that many prog bands fall into, writing songs with endless arrangements and performing musical gymnastics. There is some of that on “Raging Waters”, but the band also proves that they are well adept in writing good songs, whether they are 4-minutes or 13-minutes long. In the end, it is all about the songs. “Raging Waters” by Syrens Call is as good as any female fronted prog-metal that I have heard in years. The band does a masterful job at mixing the intricacies that progressive bands are known for, while still maintaining a solid melodic base that could please fans that are not necessarily into Progressive Metal.
Rating - 92/100
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Label : Pervade Productions/Thundering Records
Review by Tony Cannella
France’s Auspex is not a conventional band. On their second album “Heliopause”, this Progressive Metal band offers a unique sound that takes the listener on a musical tour de force featuring many unexpected moments along the way. I was drawn in from the very beginning of the opening tune, “Electric Sheep”; this track segues into the fast paced, frenzied energy of “Silence”. This is one of the strongest tracks that “Heliopause” has to offer, it is a pretty good indicator of what makes Auspex such a potent musical force.It’s all here, strong musicianship, tempo changes, some cool orchestration and Elodie’s soaring vocal delivery. ”I Walked Awoken on Titan” is next and has a majestic vibe to it. This is one of the unique tracks offered up here with Elodie alternating between spoken word and singing the lyrics. Once again, there are many tempo changes – and an interesting, almost jazzy breakdown at the very end. The 8-minute “In Through the Looking Glass” also became a huge favorite, with its big orchestral feel. The galloping “The Pulse of Emptiness” is another strong track. Other highlights include: “Setsunaki Tabi” (this song is sung in Japanese) and the 11-minute epic “Resolutio” which brings this excellent release to a close. Talk about an endurance test. One has to admire the sheer skill and courage it takes to do something this adventurous in a metal framework. Personally, I loved this band! I’m guessing that the songs and music on “Heliopause” won’t be for everyone, given its daring style, but for those who want to take the plunge into a band whose style can’t be defined, than Auspex is truly a band worth investigating.
Rating – 88/100
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Label : Bernett Records/Pervade Productions
Review By Tony Cannella
France’s Mystery Blue has a history that dates all the way back to the 80’s. Who knew? I sure as heck didn’t. Their debut was released in 1984 and after another release in 1986 the band took an over decade long hiatus, and returned with another album in 1998. I never heard about this band until 2003’s, “Metal Slaves”. Now the band return with their fifth album, “Hell & Fury”. Mystery Blue is just a pure, true Heavy Metal band, and “Hell & Fury” is an album filled with in-your-face guitar work and the soaring, wailing vocals of Nathalie. The opening intro, “The Night Before” is an interesting way to begin things, with faux news reports about people on a killing spree. Not sure if this is a theme that runs throughout the album, since I don’t have the lyrics. Following the intro, the listener is immediately hit with a barrage of guitar riffs and the song, “Hell & Fury” comes blasting through the speakers like an out-of-control locomotive. “Endangering Species” and “Welcome to Chaos” keeps frenzy of guitar riffs coming. “Metal Attack” has an Accept, “Balls To The Wall” vibe to it, both with it’s huge guitar riff and sing-along chorus. “Piece Of Eternity” is one of my favorite tracks, it starts off as a ballad, but don’t think you are going to get a chance to relax on this one, as the tempo picks up, but this is still one of the more melodic tracks that band offers on “Hell & Fury”. The band follows that one up with one of faster songs, “Nuclear Skies”, just a great song to air guitar and headbang to. Other highlights include: “The Deadly Nightshade” and album closer, “When Time Is Pain”. While Mystery Blue’s niche lies in the traditional metal area, the band have also included some thrash elements in their songs. Mystery Blue are certainly a band that should have a great appeal with the traditional metal crowd. I found myself enjoying, “Hell & Fury” with each subsequent listen. “Hell & Fury” is an unrelenting metal album, that never comes up for air until completion. Whether you like this type of music or not, you have to admire the conviction, energy and intensity, in which Mystery Blue deliver their songs. Now, Bang thy head.
Rating - 89/100
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Label : Pervade Productions/Thundering Records
Review by Tony Cannella
Rating - 85/100
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Label : Pervade/Manitou/Thundering Records
Review by Tony Cannella
“Drama” is the new CD/DVD set from France’s Amphitryon. The band has really proven that they are quite an ambitious bunch with this new set. The songs performed on “Drama” are from a story written by guitarist/vocalist Mathieu Scarpa called “Le Cycle d’Ephapsamenee” and originally appeared on their 2006 CD “Sumphokeras”. Here now is the DVD side of things. The DVD comes with a 63-minute live concert performance as well as some pretty cool extras that make it easier for the viewer/listener to follow along with this complex story.The performance begins with the intro track “Archeia”. The intro is dark, ominous and foreboding, it’s also pretty damn cool and a perfect precursor to what is to follow. The song list is the same as what can be found on the CD but it is very cool to have the opportunity to see the band perform this interesting story. There is no between song banter from the band to the audience. It is just the band playing the story from beginning to end. The lighting on the stage is a bit dark at times. I don’t know if that is by design but it certainly adds to the overall feel and vibe of the performance. The bonus features are also very interesting as well. “The Cycle d’Ephapsamenee” features the text (in both French and English) of the main story, so if there are thing you don’t understand, just refer to this part and it’ll get you back on track. Each song has it’s own special chapter that tells you where that song fits in the story and you can go right to it. In addition to that, you get some cool photos of the making of this presentation, some live pics and some paintings by Daniel Peron which are inspired by the story. The whole things all adds up to a satisfying package. Whether you like Amphitryon or you don’t (and I suspect opinions will vary), you have to give them the respect. They have put out a package goes against the grain for such a young band. It is obvious a lot of thought, dedication and imagination went into the making of “Drama”. The story being told is quite interesting and has several layers to it and is very well done.
Total Rating - 82/100
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