Are you searching for something different? For sure, Hungary’s DHARMA [ dharmaofficial] is what’s suit you. This band, with their second album propose something that it “straddles the line between Gothic Rock and Electronic Metal”. Obviously that is something that “requires a certain amount of open minded-ness” and few listens too but this is not a reason for giving up, as our reviewer Tony states at the end : “I like “Dharmageddon” more and more with each listen […] and “Dharmageddon” is a bit of a change from most of today’s female fronted metal”.

(via Dharma – “Dharmageddon” (2012) « Femme Metal Webzine)

(via Italian band BELLADONNA release their version of “SWEET CHILD O’ MINE” « Femme Metal Webzine)

Coming from an “artistic” family as Anne states : “my mom was a theater major in college and a director and my dad has written a novel”, her project Upon Wings debuts with the EP “Afterlife” that features the “guest vocalist Brett Hestla (ex-Creed, Dark New Day), master Grammy-nominated mixing engineer Glenn Brown (Kid Rock‘s recording engineer) and guitar work and production from Canadian-based Kevin Jardine”. “When it comes to writing songs and creating a theme with the lyrics, I have to write what is true to me and whatever I’m experiencing at the time”, so Anne it’s a true artist that tries to fullfil her dreams [and maybe he achieved this mission]. 

(via Anne Autumn Erickson – Upon Wings « Femme Metal Webzine)

Well, we can use only Tony’s words for describeTatiana’s Niovi “Breath of Light” debut album : “beautiful, passionate, full of heart and cinematic”. But let’s do a step back and present a little the band - “they hail from Greece” and tag their music Melodic Symphonic Rock & Soundtrack Music, it is fronted by the lead vocalist Tatiana Manolidou that according to our reviewer : [she] “has a tremendously expressive and diverse voice”. Tony closes his piece stating that in “Breath of Life” “there are so many interesting music layers”.  

(via Tatiana’s Niovi – “Breath of Light” (2012) « Femme Metal Webzine)

(@svartrecords @tuomaskarhunen) “After their high praised self-titled debut” Finnish occult rock band Jess and the Ancient Ones are back a brand new EP called “Astral Sabbat” released by Svart Records. The only thing that our reviewer Luisa has done it was reconfirming her opinion about this band and their musicianship : “The EP is made up of three tracks bathed by a magic breath, a liquid sound that is found also in the instruments”. So, as Luisa recommends “if you love occult rock, this is a release you cannot miss”.

(via Jess and the Ancient Ones – “Astral Sabbat” EP (2013) « Femme Metal Webzine)

(@alabama_shakes) Only the fact that former The White Stripes “Jack White has chosen them as support” would be a reason to check this awesome debut by US Rock/Black/Blues band Alabama Shakes called “Boys & Girls”. But let’s do step back and have them properly introduced: Alabama Shakes are coming from Athens, Alabama - precisely “from the South of United States of America where soul, blues were born many years ago”. In its line up is featured the singer Brittany Howard whose “voice is powerful and sensual, full of passion and suffering”. Luisa has attempted to compare Brittany’s voice to “Aretha Franklin or Janis Joplin” but our reviewer prefer to state that [Brittany] “has her own identity and it is correct to judge her for her own skills”. Wrapping up, “Their debut record “Boys & Girls” is built over a simple rock-blues without frills”. 

(via Alabama Shakes – “Boys & Girls” (2012) « Femme Metal Webzine)

Davide’s approach with the latest album by US alternative rock/dream pop band Yo La Tengo wasn’t the easiest ones because as he admits “I have to confess that I have never heard of this band” [before] then another reason is, as he explains : ““Fade” is their 13th album and its sound slightly differs from their previous work, “Popular Songs”. In this one the electric guitar was present in each song, but in “Fade” it is almost gone. You feel strongly this absence”; So match the facts that he didn’t know before YLT’s music + “Fade” acoustic-ish tendency come out this : ““Fade” is a little weak album though I’m sure that fans of the band will appreciate it”. Before you hasten to any conclusion, we would like to point out that “only on a couple of occasions the situation is diametrically opposite, and we find it in the opener “Ohm” and in the conclusive “Before We Run””. Well, it’s your choice to take this ride or not. Or simply you wanna try something different. 

(via Yo La Tengo – “Fade” (2013) « Femme Metal Webzine)

We have already reviewed years ago their debut album “Misunderstood” but now UK the progressive rock band Crimson Sky is back with a brand new lineup ( including the “new vocalist Jane Setter”). The 4-song EP “Dawn” is composed by 2 re-recorded songs - already published onto the “Misunderstood” album - and 2 brand new songs. Tony is really enthusiastic about the songs re-interpretation ‘cause “Jane Setter is an excellent addition to the band and breathes new life into the older tracks”. Although is the EP is quite short in its duration, it balances with its energy and as our reviewer said the EP “sees the band re-energized and ready to roll on”. 

(via Crimson Sky – “Dawn” (EP) (2012) « Femme Metal Webzine)

And from UK, comes “ethereal gothic rock/metal” trio Celestial Wish. Their 2012 demo totally surprised Tony because “I had no idea what to make of at first”. As Tony writes “Celestial Wish 4-song demo has a certain quality that is eerie, a bit avant-garde and still possibly commercially viable”. Wrapping up our reviewer about this UK trio states “Celestial Wish may not be for everyone and the tempo and mood of the songs very rarely varies, but still the band shows a lot of promise”. So, we postpone our full verdict the next time for CW. 

(via Celestial Wish – Demo (2012) « Femme Metal Webzine)

From Italy now we jump towards Norway with the art-rock/progressive band White Willow and its sixth album “Terminal Twilight”. For being his first time that Tony has listened to them, he remained surprisingly astonished by their capacity to merge different type of music such “as Jazz-fusion, electronica, orchestral, 70s style prog rock and topping it off with a bit of the avant-garde”. Also Tony is not afraid to define White Willow’s music “a cross between the great fellow Norwegian band The 3rd and the Mortal and Pink Floyd”. Do you want to revere “one of the more unique albums and bands I have heard in quite some time” as Tony has stated? 

 (via White Willow – “Terminal Twilight” (2011) « Femme Metal Webzine)