Floor Jansen je kao pjevačica obilježila gothic metal i symphonic metal scenu svojim radom u bendovima After Forever, ReVamp i naravno trenutno kao vokalistica Nightwisha. No, evo nam i njenog solo albuma koji je izašao prije nekoliko dana. Album sadrži deset pjesama koje se u neku ruku razlikuju od njenog rada s matičnim bendom, a u neku ruku se ne razlikuju. Ono što bih rekao je da je muzika na ovom albumu mješavina popa s nešto electro pop utjecaja i Floorinih symphonic metal korijena i gothic metal utjecaja. Njen glas i pojava su energični i jaki kao i uvijek, a melodije na ovim pjesmama su odlične, catchy i pamtljive na prvo slušanje. Simfo pasaži su uvjerljivi i pjesme su dobro napisane, no Floorin glas nosi ovaj album od početka do kraja. Od odlične ‘My Paragon’ preko nježnijih pjesama kao što je ‘Daydream’ ili ‘Hope’ do up tempo ‘Come Full Circle’ ili ‘Fire’ ovaj album sadrži pjesme koje bi radio mogao komotno puštati u prime timeu, dakle neki metal puristi bi se mogli naći uvrijeđeni i bojkotirati ovaj album, jer nije dovoljno metal i underground. No, meni je album kao cjelina odličan i baš ga volim slušati, pogotovo uz nešto što radiš usput, kao recimo slažeš svoje metal majice po abecedi bendova u ormar i maštaš pomalo. Dreamy, melodično i catchy, a istodobno vrlo osobno i introspektivno. Dobar album.
Portugal has interesting and varied metal and extreme music underground scene and I am glad I discovered one more band from that nice country. Godiva are hailing from Porto and this is their brand new opus. This one contains ten songs. The music of Godiva is a mixture between black death metal and some gothic metal influences mostly the darkened atmosphere of the opus as a whole. Vocals are a mixture of black metal screams and death metal growls but you can understand what is being sung about, so that is another plus for this band in my opinion. Music varies from aggression of blast beats black metal to more atmospheric keyboard led melodies and symphonic black death metal passages not unlike later Dimmu Borgir era, at least I heard it that way, that does not mean this band is a clone of mentioned band or anything. Godiva lean more into guitar metal oriented side of things and less on symphonic metal, although there is enough of both to satisfy fans of both genres. Songs like ‘Death of Icarus’, ‘Black Mirror’ and ‘Faceless’ are my personal favorites. You will have to find ones for yourselves.
German symphonic power/gothic band Xandria have been in the scene for almost thirty years now. Led by mastermind Marco Heubaum, only remaining founding member through many line-up changes, this is band’s eighth full opus, first one in six years with completely new line-up. New singer Ambre Vourvahis sounds really convincing with her strong and melodic voice, and her interplay with Marco’s growled and almost black metal screamed voice comes to front in songs like awesome ‘You Will Never Be Our God’, featuring guest performance by Ralf Scheepers of Primal Fear/Gamma Ray fame, being one of my personal favorites on this one. This brand of symphonic melodic gothic/power metal didn’t always sit with me well in the past, but this band always somehow was good and they continue that way. Choirs and symphonic orchestrated parts are epic, bombastic and band is still metal besides that and guitars and their melodies lead the way through soundscape of music which opens up and touches you most inner feelings and fights and struggles. Songs that I can also list as my favorites are: ‘Ghosts’, ‘Your Stories I’ll Remember’.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 