Symphonies of Sorrow on a roll – big time !!
have been noticing really good work by Symphonies of Sorrow for some time – but just lately the posts have exploded and covered a wide range of great music
click the image for the link:
also worth mentioning this is one of the best reference blogs i’ve seen for a long time
recent bands and albums covered include:
- Lacuna Coil – Karmacode
- Holyhell – Apocalypse
- Iron Maiden – Live @ Fields Of Rock
- L’Ame Immortelle – Namenlos
- Armin van Buuren & Sharon den Adel – In And Out Of Love (single)
- Leaves’ Eyes – Live @ Wacken Open Air
- Epica – The Divine Conspiracy
Black Symphony DVD :: Within Temptation :: Feature Review part 2
The introduction to Our Solemn Hour is met with a huge cheer from the audience, and then the song explodes and so does the entire arena. Sharon in her shoulder-feathers leads proceedings and the whole orchestra and choir are in full flight again. Next the rousing The Other Half Of Me and another special guest, the lively George Oosthoek, with all the necessary growls and menace. Another wonderfully theatrical moment, which the audience loved.
Next, for Frozen, the band took centre stage again to rock out a little, followed by the ethereal The Promise that was given extra lift by the whole majesty of the venue. Truly a thrilling version, with Sharon willing the crowd to enjoy. The anthem that is Angels brought both the enormous angels on stage and the audience to full voice. Spectacular, and more tears for the beauty of the song and the overwhelming experience.
The flute and choir lead you in and then suddenly the stage and musicians explode into Mother Earth – another crowd-pleasing anthem performed with gusto. The male choir was, of course, thrilling in the live setting, so another classic performance. The Truth Beneath The Rose followed, again emphasising the majesty and range of WT music and Sharon’s voice, plus the magic of the live performance with the orchestra. Truly a perfect example of the talents of all the musicians and their songwriting, and a fitting climax.
Except for the thunderous encores of Deceiver of Fools with another exquisite costume change for Sharon. Next up is All I Need with ballet backdrop and is a much-appreciated sing-along by the audience. Sharon’s vocals again travel a wide range and leave this listener in awe.
So to the grand final, Ice Queen, with the audience, again, singing as one! Black Symphony is easily one of the best albums of any year as it captures so much power, majesty and sheer excellence in metal music – whether you call it gothic metal or symphonic metal or symphonic rock. WT rules!!
If you ever need to show an example of female-fronted metal with a commanding singer, just show anyone a track from this DVD. They could not fail to be impressed. Mention must be made of the band, of course, and they are so tight throughout that it seemed churlish to single anyone out. The rhythm section held everything, including the orchestra, together: Stephen van Haestregt on drums and Jeroen van Veen on bass guitar. Martijn Spierenburg (keyboards), Ruud Adrianus Jolie (electric and acoustic guitars) and Robert Westerholt (electric guitars) were precise, and all the guitarists supported Sharon den Adel on stage with their energy and visual emphasis.
Details: The concert features the band accompanied by The Metropole Orchestra and the Pa’dam Choir. It was filmed by 14 HD cameras on February 7, 2008 at the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam.
Black Symphony DVD :: Within Temptation :: Feature Review part 1
The Ahoy Arena is one of the premier concert venues in Europe, with fantastic acoustics and wonderful transport efficiency. It is a pleasure to travel to the venue in a way that is so ‘right’ it is astounding that other venues are so bad. This excellent access puts you in a good mood before a concert starts.
Next, of course, is the performance. The Ahoy has hosted everyone from Tina Turner and Janet Jackson, right through the past 15 pop years, and with many classical triumphs as well. When I heard Within Temptation would be recording there, and with a symphony orchestra – wow!!
For the purposes of this review I have ordered the concert in the same sequence as the superb Black Symphony DVD – which cannot be recommended highly enough.
So the Overture is just amazing – orchestra and massed choir in the perfect acoustic setting. Then the band arrives and the sound is awesome. Have never heard Sharon sound so good on Jillian (I’d Give My Heart) and, of course, looking magnificent. The power and majesty continue on The Howling with the orchestra letting rip – so to speak. If anyone doubts the power of Sharon’s vocals, just listen to her in front of that song.
One of my favourite songs, Stand My Ground, comes next and so the tears come too – of joy and wonder. We’re only three songs in and the concert is already a classic. The drums throb next, providing that rumbling backdrop to The Cross, followed by Sharon’s effortless range across husky to pure.
Next is What Have You Done with special guest Keith Caputo, one of WT’s excellent anthems and the crowd cannot help themselves with singing and cheering. It’s like a choir of 10,000 voices. Then it was back to Sharon’s power on Hand of Sorrow, the clarity and range of her mezzo-soprano so evident on this and the following The Heart of Everything. Here I must just mention, also, the huge video screens behind the stage and the very appropriate imagery for each song.
A costume change and a huge cheer for Forgiven, which was nothing short of beautiful. And Sharon too. The piano and orchestra were in perfect harmony and, again, most of the audience were singing the lyrics the whole way through.
Next is another skillful duet, this with Anneke van Giersbergen on Somewhere and its magical interweaving of the two voices. The Swan Song and Memories return to the more mellow style, with the boys all sitting stage front on their instruments.
Part 2 follows …
Update on Floor Jansen and After Forever – new album soon?
Floor Jansen during an interview
STOP PRESS: See more recent news – sad news – in later post here
Floor Jansen is the lead singer of After Forever who, at female-fronted-fan, is somewhat of a legend. Her fantastic soprano vocals can scale a huge range, adding tremendous depth and passion to the band’s songs.
Floor Jansen during an interview
Floor Jansen, full force
Starting at 16 years old with the band then named Apocalypse, Floor soon joined in the songwriting duties and made full use of her opera training. She also plays guitar, piano and flute and has been a driving force in the changing band, including the renaming to After Forever.
Floor has contributed to work by a number of composers and collaborated on other metal band albums. Late in 2008 was a busy time with Floor guesting on Doro’s single Celebrate and at a concert.
Also of note was Floor’s performance of the song Phantom of the Opera at the Christmas Metal Symphony. Hopes are that a new After Forever album will be in the works during 2009. In the meantime. Floor has been working on other projects as well as running workshops and giving lessons.
The teaching started after Floor’s time of studying at the Rock Academy, a new type of education facility in The Netherlands that can be compared with a traditional music conservatory but for rock and pop musicians.
Sirenia new album – The 13th Floor – 5 star magic
there may be some dispute – there usually is – but i will suggest this is Sirenia’s most cohesive album :: especially if you love power and melody combined in a rich infusion of tone and contrast
there are guest appearances by Jan Kenneth Barkved (who was also on their debut), French violin player Stephanie Valentin and, of course, the Sirenian choir which, as the band say, “has been an important part of our sound since the very beginning”.
The 13th Floor will be released on January 23 via Nuclear Blast Records :: the album was tracked at Sound Suite Studios in France and Stargoth Studios in Norway, with mixing and mastering sessions at the Antfarm Studios in Denmark with Tue Madsen :: the tracks are:
Sirenia :: The13th Floor
01. The Path To Decay
02. Lost In Life
03. The Mind Maelstrom
04. The Seventh Summer
05. Beyond Life’s Scenery
06. The Lucid Door
07. Led Astray
08. Winterborn 77
09. Sirens Of The Seven Seas
we already have some favourites, especially The Lucid Door and Winterborn but, as already noted, this is an album you can listen through time and time again :: both the album and single have bonus mixes of various songs
and surely there is a track or two as great new contenders for the alternate Twilight soundtrack (see full story)
Best Gothic Metal Band / Best Symphonic Metal Band
Sharon den Adel of Within Temptation
in January 2006, Within Temptation won the Dutch Pop Prize and the Dutch Export Prize (for the best-selling Dutch artist outside the Netherlands) :: this was the third time in a row they had won the Export prize
just notice the ‘Pop’ label :: although they have successfully toured throughout Europe, none of their singles or albums were given wide releases in America :: it’s not until 2008 that all their albums had full release in the US :: the power of the internet music sites, nonetheless, makes Within Temptation appear on just about every list of best gothic/symphonic metal, even in the States
Anette Olzon of Nightwish
Nightwish, on the other hand, promoted themselves through singles and videos in the States, and were rewarded with MTV airplay :: also, again in large part due to the web, the replacement of Tarja Turunen with Anette Olzon added significantly to their public awareness
the 2007 Nightwish album Dark Passion Play went to No 1 in four countries, and Top 10 in eight ::t he recent album release from Within Temptation, Black Symphony, will probably be their most successful, especially as it is the first one with major label support :: Nightwish, on the other hand, had support from both their strong niche labels – Century Media and Nuclear Blast
it may be too early to decide which of these is the best gothic/symphonic metal band, so let’s make them first equal – for now, at least :: your comments are welcome
Forever Slave – Tales For Bad Girls
one of the joys of the internet is the opportunity to discover new music, but also to delve deeper :: YouTube and Last.FM and Pandora are great for providing initial impressions :: what i love is the ability to cross-check all those as well as Wikipedia and the thousands of fan sites
which brings me to Forever Slave as, somehow, they have slipped under my radar for, it would seem, far too long :: the odd song i heard in the past seemed too similar to Evanescence and did not register properly :: so what a surprise to find strong recommendations on Amazon when i was checking Within Temptation and Suicide Girls (you know how the stepping stones can lead all over the place!)
but now, after hearing more and finding a few songs i really like, the band have grown on me :: Equilibrium, for example, provides a great showcase for the two vocalists, and some stirring guitar :: Tristeza shows a better range of Lady Angellyca’s vocals as, somehow, the earlier songs i heard did not seem to capture the full flavour
Forever Slave released their first full length album Alice’s Inferno in 2005 :: the group released their second album Tales for Bad Girls in April 2008 :: described as a Spanish symphonic-gothic metal band, they were formed by Servalath and Lady Angellyca in 2000
Cleavage Wars – goths, tattoos and Metal Maidens
Lennon Murphy
the Metal Maidens 2009 calendar from Metal Hammer is another great roundup of modern metal frontwomen :: good to see Lennon Murphy (right) getting timely exposure for both herself and Devil’s Gift
Kristen Randall
Kat von D of LA Ink, Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil and the bewitching Alexandra Martin of Adastreia rub shoulders with Marta of Bleeding Through and, of course, The Fuel Girls :: even more ink is on display from Kristen Randall (left) of Winds of Plague
with these large pics on display throughout the year in the female fronted fan office, 2009 should be an attractive year
After Forever
Floor Jansen of After Forever
talking of power and passion, have spent the afternoon wrapped in the warm (vocal) embrace of Floor Jansen and After Forever :: some voices have bad days as well as good, altho Floor always seems great :: Life’s Vortex really stood out today.
according to Wikipedia, Floor has a light-lyric soprano vocal range :: it is certainly pure and crisp, adding just the perfect topping to the band’s dynamic sound.
Energize Me – i should say so!
: Bronwen
slightly celeb look - sorry
altho born in Australia we believe the family is of Norse descent :: some say Bronwen means ‘white breast’ and i am certainly a natural blond and fair-skinned :: altho i burn easily i still like a little tan so i don’t look like Rocky Horror all of the time.
