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.
Montreal based Progressive Gothic metal band AraPacis with the 3rd album “Netherworld” out via Ravenheart Music, offers a platter full of different musical influences like doom à la Candlemass and hard rock. In addition to this, lead vocalist Lizzie Fyre not only uses her clean vocal technique but also, in a few songs, an extreme style. Tony has just stated that AraPacis are “fast becoming one of the best bands out of the Canadian metal scene.”, so what are you expecting for? Read more @ http://www.femmemetalwebzine.net/2013/01/09/arapacis-netherworld-2012/
For what I get UK gothic metal band Apparition has again tornado-ed its line up but this doesn’t matter really ‘cause when a band releases a top album this fact needs the complete attention: are really rare the case that a reviewer calls THE “album of their career” and this is the moment. Apparition’s “For Vengeance… and for Love” out on Mëtal Compass for Tony is THE album of their career. I don’t want to spoil the whole review but if this album was rated 91 out 100, it’s a good reason to reading it. More @ (via Apparition – “For Vengeance… And for Love” (2012) « Femme Metal Webzine)
Since we really love you (and hope is viceversa) we offer you here an exclusive with the new singer of Maltese Gothic Doom Metal band Weeping Silence Diane Camenzuli - Weeping Silence and bassist Sean Pollacco. We have talked about, in the first part, the third album “For the Unsung” that sees the collaboration also on 2 songs for the Draconian mastermind Anders Jacobsson and in the second part, Diane has the chance to present herself to the world and to the fans. More @ (via INTERVIEW : Sean Pollacco & Diane Camenzuli – Weeping Silence « Femme Metal Webzine)
Label : Ravenheart Records
Review by Tony Cannella
WitchcrafT is a dark, progressive metal band from Russia. They were formed in 2005 and released their debut “The Voice From Inside” in 2008. Their just released second album is titled “Ash”. Musically, WitchcrafT offers a classy style and the angelic vocals (no pun intended) of Angel. The band utilizes very prog-like keyboard passages that interplay nicely with the guitars. The intro “Memories” begins things and sorta reminded me a bit of Dream Theater when the keyboards kick in. That’s no surprise since DT is listed as one of the bands influences. After the intro, the band launches into the haunting title track “Ash”, tempo wise this song shifts gears from a slower style to faster and more bombastic, a cool guitar solo is also on display here. In addition to the beautiful vocals of Angel, some male vocals are also present throughout “Ash”. I apologize for not being able to provide who performed the male vocals, but I could not find them anywhere on-line. “Flaming Night” is next and is a melodic power metal type of song and also one of the heavier and more straight forward numbers include here. The male vocalist takes the lead on this one. The ballad “Frail Rime” slows the tempo down a down a few notches and delivers a stunning vocal performance from Angel.The use of violins on this track helps to make it a somber, melancholic track. Other highlights include: “Oblivion”, “Mist” and “Sleepy Hollow”. “Ash” is a very strong second release from WitchcrafT. It maintains a steady, consistent path musically throughout its 53-minute playing time. Fans who love Prog-metal with haunting and dark undercurrents should check out WitchcrafT.
Rating - 85/100
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Label : Ravenheart Records
Review by Tony Cannella
From Malta, Weeping Silence first formed way back in 1995. In 2008 they released their full-length debut titled “End of an Era” which was followed in 2009 with a 4-song promo CD. Now the band returns with their sophomore effort dubbed “Theatre of Life” and to say that this band is really starting to come into their own is an understatement. Musically, “Theatre of Life” hones Weeping Silence’s Symphonic Gothic metal style and sees them take what has begun on their 2008 debut to the next level. Also taken to the next level is their songwriting, which continues to grow and flourish. Although there are only 8-songs on “Theatre of Life”, the whole thing clocks in at a healthy 47-minutes, and while musically there are some dirge-like moments, there are also times when the band speeds up the tempo a bit, often times throughout the course of the same song, (the excellent “Within White Walls” is a perfect example of this). Lead vocalist Rachel Grech continues to establish herself as one of the unheralded voices in the Femme Metal genre and she is only getting better. The title song “Theatre of Life” is one of my favorites and it features a choir on the chorus that definitely gives it a ‘theatre’ vibe and highlights the huge-ness of the song (this track also features a cool solo at the end of the song). The track “Season’s Journey” begins as a ballad before the heavy riffs comes crashing in. Still this is a slower song tempo-wise and singer Rachel does another great job on this one, at times she kind of reminds me of Sharon den Adel from Within Temptation, but only at certain moments. Fans who were lucky to snatch up their 4-song 2009 promo CD will notice that those four songs appear here in re-recorded form. The whole thing is pretty consistent throughout starting with the opening duo of “Of Light and Shadow” and “Dark Waters” and concluding with the 7 and a half minute finale “Innocent Cries”. The band also manages to work in choirs and symphonic parts to go along with the heavy doom style riffs. How Weeping Silence has managed to fly under-the-radar these last few years is beyond me. Hopefully with the help of “Theatre of Life”, this is one band that will not go unnoticed for much longer. They have the talent and skill to really make a mark in the metal world.
Rating - 92/100
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MySpace * ReverbNation * Facebook * Site
Label : Ravenheart Records
Review by Tony Cannella
From Chile, the four member Metal band Edenial formed in 2000. In 2003 they released 4-song demo and in 2011 – 8 long years later – Edenial resurfaces with their second album titled “From the End”. This Chilean band definitely has got the ability and potential to raise their profile in world of melodic (yet heavy) metal. The song which the album is named after “From the End” begins things and is not really indicative of what to expect on “From the End”. It is still a good song but it has a dreamy, more laid back vibe than the other material presented here. It is on the second song “Wind” where Edenial find their groove and “From the End” really starts to take off. Vocalist Francisca Lastra has got a solid, energetic, powerful voice. I know that those are three adjectives that are possibly overused at times, but they really and truly apply to Francisca Lastra. Throughout the CD Edenial is constantly barraging the listener with some dense and crushing guitar riffs, and a style that lies somewhere between Thrash Metal and Classic Metal, with some power metal and guitar virtuoso moments thrown in as well. “The Big Day”, “Maiden” and “Don’t Look Behind” sees the band in full-on attack mode. My favorite songs, without a doubt is “It’s Too Dark, Too Wet & Cold”, I know I don’t understand the title either but with that a side this just proves to be a great song. That is followed by the attitude heavy, in-your-face assault of “Payback”. The melodic “Staying with Me” brings things to a great conclusion even though this is not as heavy as the other material and has leanings in the realm of the ballad, this is still a powerful number and a wonderful way to end things. “From the Beginning” is a very effective debut. “From the End” by Edenial is 12-songs and 49-minutes worth of some solid material. The songs are mostly up-tempo, well played/written and feature some wicked hooks, infectious melodies and memorable choruses. The songs also possess enormous commercial potential (in my opinion) if given the opportunity to reach a wider audience. At the end of the day, Edenial are still a metal band (and a very good one at that) but their accessibility factor can’t be denied.
Rating - 88/100
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MySpace * ReverbNation * Facebook * Twitter
Label : Ravenheart Music
Review by Tony Cannella
It is rare when a band releases a “retrospective” compilation after only releasing one album. It’s unheard of in fact. Well, that is what U.K. based Gothic metal band Apparition has done with “Ghosts of the Past: The Story So Far”. In all fairness Apparition released their debut album “Drowned in Questions” in 2006, and I am not sure if this album still available. So, “Ghosts of the Past…” is an album that allows new fans to get up to speed and entices older fans with previously unreleased material. Ever since Apparition’s inception they have had many line-up changes with bassist David Homer being the only original member. It is good to see that the band soldiers on after a few years of silence following their debut. The first of three unreleased songs, “The Dream Where I Cannot Go” opens the album. I loved this song and it is easily my favorite of the new songs. Sure it’s a melancholic sort of love song – or maybe it’s a song about longing for love – in any event the female vocalist and newest member Samantha Smallwood sings her heart out on this song and it just gave me chills, she is amazing. Next is the pure metal-ness of “I Don’t Know” from the band’s debut “Drowned in Questions”. Next up is another heavy one, the ‘demo’ version of “Elysium”. Since “Elysium” isn’t on their first album, I am assuming it was on an earlier demo? But I could be wrong. Still, this song absolutely kills, and it also features some male Goth-like vocals near the end (sorta like Peter Steele). Another unreleased track “Salvation” follows and it is another forlorn ballad-ish type song, that also has some heavy parts but maintains a mid-tempo pace throughout and the orchestration only enhances the song. Four songs from the debut are next and are followed by the final unreleased song “The Path to Eternity”. This is a 9-minute epic that tends to drag a bit, but it is still a really good song. The demo version of “Traitors Gate” and the piano version “The Dream Where I Cannot Go” brings “Ghosts of the Past…” to its conclusion, although I think I prefer the electric version of “The Dream Where I Cannot Go”, but this track is still buoyed by Samantha’s great vocals.. I always have a difficult time grading albums, and this one was harder than most since half of it was material that has already been released, I decided to give “Ghosts of the Past…” a 90 based on the new material. Since this album was released in 2010 and very little has been heard from the Apparition camp I certainly hope that Apparition still exists because the new music and line-up certainly should give their fans some optimism about where the band is headed musically.
Rating - 90/100
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Independent Release/Ravenheart Music
Review by Tony Cannella
Rating - 85/100
Tracklist
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Label : Ravenheart Music
Review by Tony Cannella
Rating - 75/100
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