Griseus-Aquilus reveiw

Rarely do I find music I find interesting enough to share at No Clean Singing.  I still like that website for the off chance that I will find some entertaining metal, but those moments are growing fewer and further between.  Those of you who know me (or if you haven't guessed yet) know that I'm not fond of 'generic' music at all.  By 'generic' I do not mean that it sounds just like someone else or even dozens of other acts.  What I mean by 'generic' is that it simply conforms too much to the standards of the genre which they choose to perform.  These guidelines get to be much too rigid for too many bands.  And while NCS does cover a wide range of metal, most of it of the extreme category, too much of it is dull and uninteresting in my opinion.

Griseus is a one-man Aussie alternative metal act by Howard "Waldorf" Rosenqvist.  The genre they most associate with is darkened neoclassical folk, whatever that is. 

When I first saw the album cover for "Aquilus", I shrugged, thinking that this was just another black metal band.  Still, I read the review.  And when I did, I was interested enough to listen.  Dabbling equally in post-romanticism, folksy acoustical moments, and atmospheric extreme metal, Griseus manages to convey many different emotions in several styles of music that mesh surprisingly well.

This disc is not your standard fare for symphonic metal.  Most pieces are long, orchestral works with wailing electric guitars and loudly shrieked vocals, which creates a dark and unusually harmonic sound.  This is an album you must hear to believe.  There is no operatic singing, and the metal aspect is less pronounced than you might expect.  This is both a disturbing and memorably beautiful listening experience.  If you do not like extreme vocals at all, there is a chance you won't like this.  However, the vocals are mostly highlights rather than constant roars and shredding howls. 

This record is very unlike anything I have heard.  This project is nothing like SepticFlesh or Mechina or Epica.  It is a beautiful work that stands on its own.  Even if you do not normally listen to music you have never heard before, this might be worth your while. 

For your listening pleasure, the entire album stream, courtesy of Griseus' bandcame page, is below.  Enjoy and let us know what you think.  As always, thanks for reading!

Nemesea-The Quiet Resistance (2011)

As I have stated before, one of my main concerns about the genre of symphonic rock/metal is that the overpowering operatic vocals get to be too much, lending less creativity to the music.  Some bands sound better with operatic vocals, while some sound better without.  Nemesea is of the latter variety. 

Nemesea is a Dutch band fronted by the extremely talented Manda Ophuis.  She started the band in 2002.  "The Quiet Resistance" fom 2011 is their best effort to date, and rumor has it that they are working on a yet-to-be-titled fourth studio album.  Based on what "The Quiet Resistance" offers, the new album will be at the top of my list in 2013. 

Nemesea has been compared to After Forever, but I find tht comparison to be shaky at best.  After Forever wrote some strong metallic riffs with rangy, operatic vocals, while Nemesea dwell on more of a rock-oriented sphere, preferring catchy rock tunes highlighted with grand keyboard orchestras.  Nemesea operates on the premise of hooky tunes inspired by mainstream hard rock with some punchy metal riffing fronting the extraordinary symphonic melody.

"The Quiet Resistance" was  one of the standout albums of 2011.  It is a fantastic record.  While listners at times will be reminded of After Forever, the album will also bring to mind late Within Temptation and Epica.  Not all symphonic metal bands are created equal, and thankfully, Nemesea is on the top shelf.  If you enjoy epic hard rock and metal music, you will love this release. 

For your listening pleasure, I have embedded the entire playlist from "The Quiet Resistance" below.  Be sure to check out High Enough and Stay With Me, as these are the best tracks in my opinion. Thanks so much for reading and as always, enjoy!

Lunatica-New Shores review

Happy Friday, everyone!

The album I am reviewing today is not patently new.  Released in 2011, Lunatica's "New Shores" is an album that has consistently impressed every time I have listened to it.

Lunatica is a Swiss symphonic rock band similar in style to Within Temptation or Epica.  Thier sound is less symphonic and less metal than that of their peers, and the vocal style is decidedly not operatic.  That said, I stepped into this album with a small amount of trepidation.  After all, with a name like Lunatica, you don't find yourself itching to pick up any of their material.

"New Shores" is a more polished, mainstream version of the sound Within Temptation produces.  The vocals are not the greatest but they are melodic enough to be beautiful. 

Mostly progressive-styled rock riffs and rythms temper the symphonic keyboard sounds throuout this album.  The drumming is chunky and precise.  As with most so-called symphonic metal bands, Lunatica's sound is nothing ground-breaking.  It is a slimmed-down and more accessible record from the start. 

I know this has been a somewhat brief review, but there isn't a great amount to say about this disc.  It is a good listen if you are in the mood for some rock music with symphonic elements, but does not break any new ground.  Thus, I wouldn't put this album in the 'great' category.  However it is definitely 'good' in my opinion.  Take a listen to Into the Dissonance below.  Enjoy!

Xandria-Neverworld's End

Symphonic Metal is a genre of music that has been toyed with for decades and to varied success.  Bands like Epica and Within Temptation made a big splash and for good reasons.  If you are a fan of Epica, chances are you will like Xandria.

Xandria is a German band who serve up generous heaps of symphonic 'epicness' and weave it with old school, thrashy metal riffs and operatic vocals.  Manuela Kraller does an excellent job providing the vocals, which mostly stay in a lower range.  She doesn't go too high or hold notes for too long, which makes for a rewarding listen.

I would almost consider Xandria to be rock.  They don't use harsh vocals, nor do they present a dark, somber, almost gothic atmosphere like Within Temptation.  What I like about this band is that they are neither over-the-top symphonic nor overwhelmingly metal.  They find the right balance between punchy, chugging metallic guitar riffs and soothing, atmospheric symphonic sweeps. 

When I first heard about Xandria, I was excited to hear an album by them.  I considered purchasing "Salome-The Seventh Veil," but decided to hold on for their new album, which was to come out within a few months.  A few months ago, "Neverworld's End" finally did come out.  I was once again pleasantly surprised, for the band had improved in both execution and production.  It was a good purchase, which may lead me back to purchasing "Salome." 

Take a listen to Soulcrusher below.  Thanks for reading and enjoy!