Although they recently gone through a line up change with violinist Milena Kluz taking the lead over the former vocalists Natalia Sikora, Poland’s Symphonic Metal outfitAt the Lakedebut album “Maya” offers a nice formula that includes in their sound “Gothic, Folk and Celtic music”. Even if “it has been done before “Maya” it all sounds very natural and not gimmicky or forced”. Do you fancy for some good symphonic metal? 

(via At the Lake – “Mäyä” (2012) « Femme Metal Webzine)

From the mighty Russian steppes comes Excalibur [ Экскалибур] with their second album “Душа” (“Dusha” – “Soul”). This unknown Russian metal band propose in its platter Symphonic Power Metal at its best. What you an expect, as Vard states, are “a vast dramatic sound full of intricate orchestration; heavy guitars, bass and drumming; excellent vocals (provided by Valeria Nikiforova); plenty of catchy melodies; and of course a few mellow ballad-type songs as well”. Althought the evident linguist barrier (‘cause we would like to stress that everything in sung in Russian) “this album will provide as good an example” and also it “demonstrates to everyone just how good and in how healthy a state Russian Symphonic Power Metal currently is”. 

(via Экскалибур [Excalibur] – “Душа” [“Dusha” - “Soul”] (2013) « Femme Metal Webzine)

(via Italian Symphonic Metal band PURSING THE END confirmed for Rommelrock 2013 « Femme Metal Webzine)

[@solisia] Let’s know better the new singer of Italian Symphonic Progressive Metal bandSOLISIA Elie Syrelia. In this interview, Matteo talks with Elie about their second album “UniverSeason” - it that was out on 2012 via Scarlet Records - and about this release she states : ““Univereasons” is like a son”. Elie has met Andrea [Arcangeli - Solisia and DGM bassist] “in 2010 I met Andrea in Belgium during the PPM Fest […] we became good friends and in 2011(and) he told me about Solisia”. Also Elie is a vocal coach and her mission with her students is : “is “teach from the heart””. 

(via Elie Syrelia – Solisia « Femme Metal Webzine)

Another TOP REVIEW in our webzine! Brazil’s Soulspellmetal opera, that features as guest vocalists Amanda Somerville, Daisa Munhoz [Vandroya] & Tim “Ripper” Owens, according to Tony “actually this may be THE best metal opera I have heard”. Tony has only high praises for this release, starting from “assembling some hugely talented musicians for “Hollow’s Gathering”” then to Heleno’s “incredibly detailed and complex story”. The music genre proposed “range from pounding classic metal style numbers, prog, ballads, power metal and symphonic metal”. Tony’s fear is that “Hollow’s Gathering” “disappears into oblivion” since its abused metal opera formula. 

(via Soulspell – “Hollow’s Gathering” (2012) « 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)

Another epic breakout, after Germany, we’re heading towards Italy with the Symphonic Progressive metal band SOLISIA. What impressed the most Tony about their second album “UniverSeason” was “their ability to be super melodic whilst still delivering intricately played hard charging metal songs”. In addition to this after some different lead singer that, during the years, alternated in the position, Solisia seems to have found its muse in Elie Syrelia and our reviewer isn’t afraid to state that “the addition of Elie may be just what this band needs to ascend to the next level in the realm of Symphonic metal”. 

(via Solisia – “UniverSeasons” (2012) « Femme Metal Webzine)

An epic breakout for the German Melodic/Power/Symphonic Metallers Envinya. “Inner Silence”, the band’s debut released under MASSACRE RECORDS, wins over our reviewer Tony that declares : “I really have grown to be a big fan of Envinya after listening to “Inner Silence””. What the band plays is a mix of “symphonic, power and prog metal” with a “a great melodic base”. The highlight of this platter are Natalie Perreira dos Santos’s “pretty diverse voice” that she’s able to sing in “different styles”. The singer has left the band and at the moment Envinya is searching for a new singer and Tony adds about Natalia’s next replecement : “She is going to be a tough act to follow for anyone that replaces her”.  

(via Envinya – “Inner Silence” (2013) « Femme Metal Webzine)

Not so much time ago we’ve introduced to you the Russian Symphonic Metal bandlanewin with their second album “Eclectic Tour” and we’ve (virtually) sent our dear Vard in his beloved Russia for have a little chat with the charismatic singer Anna Belaeva. The inspiration to found Infinity (the previous moniker that suddenly was changed ‘cause it “was too overused”) was thanks to “Nightwish’s “Sleeping Sun”” song and about that moment Anna recalls : “I was so impressed by that music, that the same day I listened to all their songs, and straight after that I started listening to music, before that day I didn’t listen to it”. The band has already had the occasion to show its potential as a opener for Delain in both Moscow and Saint Petersburg in 2012 and Anna about that experience says : “It was incredible. Delain is one of my favourite metal bands and to perform with musicians that you admire is an honour”.

(via Anna Belaeva – Lanewin « Femme Metal Webzine)

Straight for Russia comes the Symphonic Metal band LANEWIN that proposes its second album “Eclectic Tour”. Vard, who’s totally in love with the Russian scene, brought to our attention this interesting band and he has only high praises - as it states the RATING (92 OUT OF 100) itself - but let’s read few words from his extensive REVIEW here : ““Eclectic Tour” is chock full of heavy rhythms; powerful riffs and drumming interlaced with various symphonics, both orchestral and more progressive electronics; excellent production; and most of all, massive and (massively) catchy vocal melodies delivered by an outstanding vocalist – the hallmarks of this album, and this band”. Do you want to listen something new? Well, check out this review here  (via Lanewin – “Eclectic Tour” (2012) « Femme Metal Webzine)