CD Review: Mercy Isle - Undying Fire (Symphonic Metal, 2016)

A epic piece of symphonic rock and metal that sets it's focus on dedicated listeners of intensive sounds.

Mercy Isle are a American-Dutch symphonic metal/rock band with massive female vocals. The band is a fusion of American pop/rock with elements of European symphonic metal. "Undying Fire" is the first full length release.

The album art for Mercy Isle's "Undying Fire" record, (c) by Mercy Isle, used with kind permission

Summary

Having heard this album several times now it always makes me wonder how deep and completly musicians are able to turn towards music. This album is like it was made to show how much the creators are giving there all and everything into the music.

The longplayer start's out easy with the first three tracks being all songs you would expect of a symphonic metal release these days. The tunes are direct rockers going straight to the meat. You can imagine a crowd going all on it They invite you to let your feelings let go and are a good opener to warm you up for what's to come.

Song four is a ballad turning the tides. Yet easy to access it already becomes more detailed and has some changes in it. This serves as a bridge to "No one will save you" and "Uncaged" both being the hardest to get by tracks. They need the full attention of the listener and are loaded with massive sounds and vocal layers. Being patient pays off and will reveal it's full potential to you.

"I Am" is sort of a crawling number, midtempo all the way but feels warmly welcomed through it's fresh attempt. Something not to be heard that often in this genre of metal. "Saying Goodbye" gives more silent moments - they give you time to take a moment off of the everyday stress and let you dream. The last two tracks give room for the more complex formula deserving higher attention to have the full point. The more often you listen the more you'll enjoy them.

Purchase-Link and Album Preview

If you're after a album that needs several rounds and offers complex and deep song structures "Undying Fire" will give you satisfaction for months. There are also lighter tracks but it surely is for all those that love to focus themselves on music and nothing else. Pick up a copy digitally on Bandcamp or order the silver disc from the same location. The band deserves some bucks for giving us such in-depth music.

For a quick overview I've included the full album stream below.

Upcoming Shows / Contact Data

Some shows have been announced for October 2017 in the Netherlands. Check the band's homepage for more details. Hold a further eye on this band using Reverbnation, Twitter or Facebook.

Goth metallers Darkwell return with new album in September

It's great to see so many bands decide to come back again these days. Many of them had to take a break from things for various reasons but I think doing so is still much better than leaving it all behind. It leaves hope behind and hope is always something we all need at all stations in life I think.

So to come back to the topic austrian Gothic metallers of the legendary band called Darkwell will come back with a fresh album in September 2016. This time around former female vocalist Alexandra Pittracher will be back as well and take over vocal duties on the new album entitled "Moloch".

The new longplayer is set for release on 23rd of September via Massacre Records. The cover has already been released and can be seen below.

The cover of the new Darkwell album "Moloch", (c) by Jasmin Elisabeth Wanner, used with kind permission

In the meantime here's a clip from the past days as a reminder to all those who know the band already or as a introduction to everyone who's interested to get to know Darkwell.

As for me I like their dark mysterious and powerfull songwriting which is combined with the fragileness of the female vocals something which can create so much touching, haunting and chilling moments when listening to such music. It really leaves you behind with some emotions. The keyboards add also a good potion to this - I think it throws in a lot of atmosphere and widens the musical expression of the band.

Make sure to stay in touch with Darkwell through Facebook or subscribe to their Youtube channel so you won't miss out on further updates.

Flames Of Fury look for bassist and release new video

A good band always needs proper people to be able to continue on their journey. Sadly from time to time band members have to leave because of various reasons and it's not always easy to find new musicians who fit musically as well as clicking on the human side of things.

The same goes for New York / New Jersey based female fronted melodic power metal band Flames of Fury who are currently on the lookout for a new bass guitar player. Vocalist Angelica Valkyrie has checked in with a statement about the change in the band and the requirements the new four string player should meet:

"We are now actively seeking a permanent bassist to join the band and perform on future tours. Currently Flames of Fury is performing with bassist Mike LePond (Symphony X / Mike LePond's Silent Assassins). We have been so happy and honored to have Mike LePond perform with us onstage as our guest bassist, as he's definitely extremely busy! So now, the band has come to a crossroads, where we really have to have a permanent bassist with us for future touring. So help us get the word out to all potential candidates, as we are counting on securing a worthy replacement to join the band permanently. Interested candidates can contact Flames of Fury directly at: info@flamesoffury.com "

The band Flames Of Fury, (c) by Flames Of Fury, used with kind permission

In the meantime the band is laying down the finishing touches to their debut full length album "Firestarter", which is scheduled for a independent release later in the year. To help skip the waiting time until more news about the release come in the band has set up a lyric video for the fan favorite "I Burn".

Valkyrie says about the video:

"We have wanted to give back to our loyal fans who have been with us from the very beginning, so we went back to our debut EP release and chose the song "I Burn" and immortalized it in a killer new lyric video. This song has been a fan favorite since our humble beginnings. Our desire has always been to create a video for it and now we finally have it. It's crazy, dark and Metal AF!"

Make sure to stay in touch with the band through their homepage or connect with them on Facebook.

Scarleth ask the sense of mind manipulation in new virtual reality video

Scarleth have premiered a great video about changing and altering your memories by replacing them with virtual reality. The great thing besides the blasting refrain that perfectly brings the message up to the point is the fact that the whole video comes packed in a style that looks like a video game / virtual reality itself and tells the story step by step to the viewer.

The lyrics are placed cleverly into the video as sort of advert messages or messages that are shown from a computer system. A excellent piece of video, I've not seen such a great mixture of story based video along with the lyrics. Don't hesitate and have a look for yourselves:

The track appears on their newest album called "The Silver Lining" and has been released in July 2015 by their label The Leaders. The band's webshop lists several ways how you can purchase the record.

Scarleth is a remarkable and experienced Ukrainian metal band playing music on joint of modern heaviness and diverse melodism. For the time being the band has played several hundreds of live shows, released two full-length albums worldwide and took part in festivals where Sergey Mavrin, Cherniy Obelisk, Dark Lunacy and other famous bands performed. The band’s style is expanding constantly and represents mind-blowing mixture of many melodic genres - from power, folk, doom and gothic metal to modern/progressive metal. 

The band Scarleth, (c) by Scarleth, used with kind permission

The band will play some shows in the upcoming time, here are the dates:

09.07.2016     Glukhov           Severnye Zemli bike fest
16.07.2016     Illichevsk     Metropolis Arena     BLACK SEA METAL FESTIVAL III
31.07.2016     Kiev     Druzhby Narodiv park     Carpathian Alliance Metal Festival    
20.08.2016     Rechytsa           Metal Crowd Festival  

Make sure to keep a eye upon the band through their own web presence or Facebook. You can also subscribe to their YouTube channel so you won't miss out on further video updates.

Progdeathmetal band Infernal Outcry release foreboding filmclip

I always wonder how far even female voices are prepared to go. This one here is from the more brutal end of the metal spectrum. It's the progressive death metal band Infernal Outcry who gifts us with a special filmclip. And one word in advance: the music is just great! A perfect balance between progressive elements and straight death metal passages while the vocals are for sure set in the deep region but nevertheless they are understandable and express the message with agressive and fitting vocal lines.

The video itself comes around as an epic Five and a Half minute short film. The clip shows a man's struggle with time and humanity's reckless destruction of the Earth via it's nonchalance and ignorance. A man literally out of time. A foreboding message about the over-population of the Earth and the reluctance to care for the Planet which sustains us... but for how long?

Infernal Outcry’s debut "Mass Extinction Requiem I" was produced by legend of the Australian Metal scene, Joe Haley (Psycroptic) and released on 18th March 2016, thanks to a grant from Tasmanian Regional Arts Fund. You can purchase the song of the video as well as the full EP both digitally and as a physical copy in the shop of the band's website or on Bandcamp.

The band Infernal Outcry from Tasmania, (c) by Infernal Outcry, used with kind permission

Also make sure to stay in connection with Infernal Outcry using the social outlets on Facebook or Twitter. 

CD Review: Van Halst - World of Make Believe (2016)

A album showing how it sounds if you put your whole heartblood, feelings and musical abilities on one disc.The female voice of Kami van Halst is going through all the various regions you could imagine. A symphonic metal album showing how different songs can be if you want them to be this way. Don't miss out this wonderfull recording.

Short Introduction

Edmonton, AB's Van Halst is a fierce, empowering force of hard rock fused with metal.  A project, which began as a solo artist for whom the band is named after -- Kami Van Halst, has since become a full group producing socially conscious, lyrical tracks that focus on disenfranchised and marginalized populations.

The band’s influences stay true to goth rock with Kami Van Halst demonstrating an agile vocal delivery in combination with pummeling growls. Lyrically, the band draws from black metal due to its focus on people suffering from isolation and rising to overcome the preconceptions of a judgmental society. In This Moment’s industrial fusion remains a primary influence for Van Halst, employing a sampler, synthesizer, and distorted vocals.

Their debut album 'World of Make Believe' is available as of March 4th 2016.

The front cover of "World of Make Believe", (c) by Van Halst, used with kind permission

Summary

This album is on my mind for some time now. Why? It's simply because you can feel so deep that it comes from musicians expressing their pure emotions and views of the world in such compositions that it's practically impossible to get them out of your heart. The album has this special something that only few recordings come with. It's symphonic metal in all it's variations and all it's beauty it can be.

It's like a ocean. Sometimes it's fast and wild like on the tracks "The End". On other times it's going up and down in itself just like on "Save Me" with it's variations between rougher and softer parts changing all the way through the track but never missing redemptive elements in them. It has epic, slower moments like with "Ryan's Song" as well as straight rockers like the title track that comes with a lot of pumping energy.

Finally there are also great balladesque songs on "World of Make Believe". "Questions" and "Denying eyes" are good example but "Plastic Smile" tops them all. A riffed melody that slowly builds up all the way through the song just to explode at the very end. What a outstanding song - it made me speechless.

Player / Purchase Link

The album is available as a digital download from Bandcamp and iTunes. It's priced at 10 Canadian Dollars on Bandcamp which is a bit more than 6 Euro. A download on iTunes comes around for 9,90 Dollar. Please take the time to prelisten to the album from the player below. I think you'll quickly re-feel what I've described in my summary.

I've seldomely heard a more diverse and intense album ever before. Since this is a self release you'll support the artist directly with your purchase. You have a mighty vote with what you buy - every time you open your pockets you'll set a sign that you want more of this. Artists will reward you with beautifull music taking you far away from your everyday worries and often help your to find the strength to overcome them. That's worth a lot in these troubled times in my eyes.


Upcoming gigs and Contact Data

Van Halst has two shows coming up on

Apr 29     Overtime Sports Bar     Calgary, Canada             
May 28    Hard Rock Cafe     Toronto, Canada

Keep in contact with the and using social tools such as Facebook, Twitter or make use of the good old traditional way visiting them on their own website. 

Album preview: Van Halst shows diversity of female voice

After a longer period you can find more bands out there that are centered around a female voice these days. While I like these bands a lot I missed one little element: the use of the whole spectrum that women are able to sing. Edmonton based Goth Rock Metallers Van Halst seem to be of a similar opinion.

It's cool to hear that Kami Van Halst dominates as the vocalist performing both growls and soaring vocals in their sound. It's also great to hear that the music shows a bit more of ups and downs which makes listening to their music much more exciting. The first single of the upcoming album "Save Me" is a good way to start discovering this great band.

The second single "World Of Make Believe" continues where "Save me" left off and gives even more room for the voice and puts the musical elements in bit a softer spotlight so the voice can breathe through clearer.

I'm looking forward to this release which will see the light of day on March 4th. The album can be pre-ordered via Van Halst's Bandcamp page.The album cover looks already promising. Who know's what lies beyond the portal the person is about to enter? Well, I think we'll find out on another day...

(c) Van Halst, used with kind permission

If you want to follow the band on the journey to the album release don't hesitate to check in at their social plattforms such as Facebook or Twitter.

Elferya streams first track of new album "Eden's Fall"

Female voices can be such a strong element in the sound of a band! This sentence came to my mind when I listened to a track of the brand new Elferya record, that has hit the shelves exactly one month ago.

(c) by Elferya, used with kind permission

This one touches my mind so deeply because it has such a intensive atmosphere to offer. That starts out with the many variations in the vocals in the first part of "Cruel Night". If fits so perfectly to the stomping power and the heavyness of the track.

The second part is set up with the music taking a bigger role and getting louder all the while. Yet the vocals keep up it's massive impression on the listener. It all comes over to me as a sort of musical expression full of passion. It feels as if you're giving your all and everything of  your spirit and the feelings of this very moment into this one piece of music. Just check out this epic piece of music.


Elferya are a melodic symphonic power metal band based in Switzerland. Also the band is unsigned yet they managed to gather quite a impressive Fanbase on Facebook already.

(c) by Elferya, used with kind permission

Elferya is going to celebrate the album release with a mini-tour in their homeland starting already today. Here are the dates.

10.10.2015 Switzerland, Avenches, Aventicum Culture Club

23.10.2015 Switzerland, Versoix, Caves de Bonséjour

30.10.2015 Switzerland, Echallens, ZR Live Music

29.11.2015 Switzerland, Pratteln, Z7

You can purchase the full length album directly through the band's webshop. If you're yet not sure if the record meets you expectations check out the album trailer below. It is short, but gives a good overview on the album and also some insight into the recordings of the record. Also make sure to see the official website for more album trailers and videos.

CD Review: Light Among Shadows - Welcome...Back!

Note:  If you have a own band or project that you think might fit in well here for a review or as a presentation / introduction please drop me a line or two in a E-Mail. Please see my profile for my E-Mail adress. I appreciate new suggestions very much so don't hesitate to contact me. I'm also interested in band news / updates / tourdates so keep the stuff coming. Thanks!

If you're having troubles writing in English please send me a E-Mail in your preferred language or use the free Google Translator to transfer your message to English. I also use that tool, it's of course not perfect but I think it will mostly likely work out for our purposes.

Short Introduction

Light Among Shadows are a female fronted symphonic metal band from the south of Spain. In the past years the band released two full length albums entitled "At the Gates of Dawn" in 2011 and only one year later "Welcome...Back!" and toured with both records in the meantime. The style of the band is inspired by fairy tales and horror stories.

At the moment the band is working on the third record with María Barragán on vocals.
This review talks about the second release of the band named "Welcome...back!" with Tatjana Klee, the female voice of the band performing the vocal tracks on the songs of the first two albums.

(c) by Light Among Shadows, used with kind permission

Summary / Player / Purchase-Link

I like albums like these very much. While they are very smphonic and detailed bands like Light Among Shadows keep the heavyness straight in which means that the power doesn't get lost in all the details and sometimes epicness of the tracks.

What we have here is a very riff-oriented album with very outworked vocals on all tracks. You can hear and feel that a lot of time has been spent making the tracks sound perfect. The drums are pushing hard forward with gives the album the extra power. Luckily enough it's not only a album full of smashing tracks but also has a lot of softer moments to offer and never misses out the melody to keep the tracks heart-touching. All in all the album comes with much diversity and often changing parts that can be found in each song.

Please check out this album and if you like go and buy this record to support bands like this one and to have a diamond in your collection that will shine on through moments in life when there's darkness around you. It's well worth it.

The album can be purchased in digital format in stores like Amazon or itunes. Also make sure to have a listen to it first in the Spotify player below. The video for the title track is also one everyone should have a look at. It tells the story of the album compressed in one video so it's a short film which is highly recommended by me and can be seen below in the track by track section.




Track-by-Track review

Welcome...Back!
Very heavy and compact start of the album, much riff-along to the double-bass attack. The refrain comes straight from the heart. A perfect kick in for the album.




Children of the Underworld
Riff-oriented midtempo rocker. The refrain pushes up the speed and makes one want to sing along. Think this could turn out very well on a live show.

When you close your eyes
A balladesque intro followed up by a riff storm intermezzo start this one. A softer bridge leads over to a riff-hacking stomping track. The beautifull vocals are giving it a warm touch. This track is very diverse and shows a wide range of emotions in it. Music speaks out so much more than words could ever do...

Homecoming
A spoken, soft dreaming intermezzo giving the listener a moment to take a break. I like it when a album has parts like this that give you a little pause before the journey goes on.

Of wonder and horror
It's a strong, riff pounding track with stretched vocals and a slightly progressive touch in it. This track needs some time to sink in, so a re-listen is recommended to get the full point in this one.

Through the maze of thorns
A song with a powerfull, hard intro going over to a softer first verse and a pushing refrain. This piece of music has many changes between soft and hard parts in them while the vocals come in majestic and also some spoken verses are inside which surprises the listener. Great solos here. A long and very intensive track.

(c) by Light Among Shadows, used with kind permission

Lost in a sea of nightmares
A powerfull start followed by softer but a bit reverbed vocal parts. It goes over back to the intro rhythm then. This song plays a lot with diversity in the vocals which seem to fit to the theme of the lyrics so it fits very well here.

Mirage

Some time for relaxing again. A soft spoken bridge leading over to the next song.

Dreamshaping

The intro starts soft and the guitars play around with the songs theme. A rougher refrain while the rest comes with a slightly balladesque feeling to it. The end has a effect sort of a redemption feeling to the writer of these lines. A warmly welcomed feeling.

The world behind the mask

The push-in goes fast with a soft going-over while the refrain presents in a slow and stomping way. The feeling overall in this track is somewhat ghostly with many fast changing parts in them. The end comes as a overburning experience which gives more redemption feeling while the end is soft and slowly fading away leaving one behind with many thoughts...

A tarnished mirror

Time for another break! Another soft intermission with dreaming notes in them. The drums are kept very hard and cold on "A tarnished mirror".

Back to where you've never been

We start with a compact riff before vocals and drums are the only things that can be heard. The riffs are set very hard here and the track is catchy. The refrain is outworked a lot with many layers of vocals all around. You'll surely remember this one once heard.

Alone

A soft start and the song moving forwards slowly. The changes between soft and hard parts are arranged epicly with a outstanding solo in here. The vocals are also set in a epic direction while the tonality overall is set on heavyness with a focus on working out the details a lot. 

Female fronted Death Metal band Halo Creation working on first album

So far not much Death Metal has been up here on my page. It's simply because this style of the Metal Universe didn't found my like too much. It's because of the often monotone style of the songs and the vocals that are often also very equal and growled that much that you cannot understand a single sentence in a song.

Well, this time it's different. What we have here is a Death Metal combo from Austria. The demo that I've heard from them is different in my ears. It's more more diverse for me. Of course there's this typical overwhelming brutality in the songs but there are changing parts in the songs. Plus they have a woman performing the vocals. That's something that not many bands of that genre would try out. Here it works fine. The band reminds me a bit of Bolt Thrower, who are sadly no more.

(c) by Halo Creation, used with kind permission

After having released a four track demo in 2014 Halo Creation are currently working on their first full length album which is scheduled for a release in 2015. Until then check out the mentioned demo in the player below. My first pick was "Fading sun" which turned out a positive surprise. You can download the demo for free from the Reverbnation page of the band.

Keep an eye of them by following them via Facebook, YouTube or Backstage Pro (a social network in german language especially for contacts in the music-scene / music business / liveclubs etc.).

Email newsletters for bands at ReverbNation.com

Chasing Dragons stream first track of their upcoming record online

Wow, female vocalists can add a lot to a band. They're not that often to find but every once in a while you'll find them. And when you do maybe you'll think the same - those women must be hardcore since they give a lot just to be accepted by the metal community.

One of them I recently ran across are Chasing Dragons. The band from Leeds are due to release their new record, ‘Checkmate’ on 2nd June via Trash Unreal Management. The band that has already released several EPs and singles just hit me very hard with the release of the track "For the sake of murder". Drawing comparisons to Iron Maiden, Avenged Sevenfold, AFI and Aiden come up to your mind when listening to their stuff.

As always its up to you to check their music out for yourselves and of couse please let me know what you think of them. For more information on the band check out their website and stay in touch with them through Facebook.



Update 2014/06/02: Show for June 4th has been cancelled, the band writes on Facebook about it:

"(...) Due to unforeseen venue actions entirely out of our hands, our show on Wednesday night with Death2Disco at The Macbeth in London has been cancelled. We're absolutely gutted to not be able to play for you guys but rest assured, the date is being REARRANGED for later in the summer! So we will be down to see you guys...If anyone has purchased tickets for this show in advance, please contact your vendor for a refund.

We'll keep you all posted with news on the new date...

Sorry for any and all inconvenience caused but it really is completely out of our control(...)"


May 30 "CHECKMATE" HOMETOWN LAUNCH: Chasing Dragons w/Bad Pollyanna, Euthemia & more - Leeds, Eiger - Leeds, United Kingdom
Jun 4 Chasing Dragons VS Death2Disco,with Killatrix, Cross Wires The Macbeth, London - London, United Kingdom
Jun 14 Chasing Dragons VS Salutation, Nottingham - Nottingham, United Kingdom
Jun 21 Chasing Dragons VS The Riverside, Selby  - Selby, United Kingdom
Jun 24 Chasing Dragons VS The Parish, Huddersfield Huddersfield, United Kingdom 
Jun 26 Chasing Dragons VS Corporation, Sheffield - Sheffield, United Kingdom
Jun 27 Chasing Dragons VS The Pot & Kettle, Rhyl, Wales w/ Artisfiction - Rhyl, United Kingdom
Aug 02 Chasing Dragons VS The Shed, Leicester - Leicester, United Kingdom
Aug 22 Chasing Dragons VS Steph's The Club That Rocks, Consett Consett - United Kingdom
Sep 19 Chasing Dragons VS The Underworld, London w/ Tagada Jones - London, United Kingdom

I will add more dates as I get to know them by updating the article so please check back from time to time if you're interested in seeing the band live.