Enthroned - Sovereigns

I have started to write for Metal Temple and here is my first review for them!

Belgian Black Metal quintet ENTHRONED released their tenth studio album “Sovereigns” through Agonia Records yesterday. I am slowly immersing into the world of Black Metal and as a brand new listener to ENTHRONED this album provided the ideal opportunity to inspect their sound.

The album starts off with atmospheric instrumental “Anteloquium” that gives the listener a sense of what sort of ambiance to expect, which of course is dark and bleak. What you’d expect on a black metal album. With the first couple of tracks “Sine Qua Non” and “Of Feathers and Flames” underway I honestly found it quite hard at first to really engage myself into the album as both tracks sounded very similar with a lot of hard-hitting aggression.

For me personally, things perked up on the album when “Lamp Of Invisible Lights” started to play as the aggression is toned down and the tempo of this track being ideal for head banging at their shows. As the album progressed, the sound did start to grow on me; particularly where in songs such as “The Edge Of Agony” and “Baal al-Maut” where the melodic guitar riffs and solos tone down the aggression making it easier for me to listen to.

For a first listen to the band and the album in general it was average for me. The album most certainly had the crucial elements needed to create a black metal album. It may not have been my cup of tea but black metal fans, especially those who like Enthroned, will enjoy the latest specimen.

Words by Charlotte Whittingham

 Find Enthroned on Facebook and official website.

Delain - The Human Contradiction

As Dutch symphonic metallers Delain embark on their long awaited tour with Within Temptation their brand new album The Human Contradiction hits the UK shelves and online retailers today.

The album opens up with Here Come The Vultures; the gentle yet dramatic opening of the song reminded me of the theme to Edward Scissorhands and I can imagine this song going down well with the audiences on their tour. It’s a very diverse track that kicks off the album very strongly.  The album’s title The Human Contradiction is demonstrated through tracks such as Here Come The Vultures, Your Body Is A Battleground and Army Of Dolls. As Charlotte Wessells herself explained the album is about the contradiction between human and non human nature and these songs demonstrate this perfectly through the lyrics.

My personal favourite songs on the album are Army Of Dolls, Sing To Me and Here Come The Vultures. I love the melody for Army Of Dolls, particularly the chorus as it still gives me goose bumps every time I hear it. Sing To Me features one of my personal favourite male vocalists Marco Hietala (Nightwish/Tarot/Northern Kings) and I love how he pulls his part of the song off exquisitely. Here Come The Vultures introduces us to the album with such style, diversity and it is a strange but a highlight none the less.

It vividly closes with The Tragedy Of The Commons featuring new Arch Enemy vocalist Alissa White Gluz.

Overall a fantastic album from Delain. I am very much looking forward to hearing some of these new songs live this Saturday at Wembley [12th April 2014]. Be sure to catch them in a town near you. (see tour dates below)

Words by Charlotte Whittingham

Tour with Within Temptation

07.04.2014 Sporthalle, Hamburg (GER)
08.04.2014 Paladium, Cologne (GER)
09.04.2014 Arena, Ludwigsburg (GER)
11.04.2014 Apollo, Manchester (UK)
12.04.2014 Wembley Arena, London (UK)
14.04.2014 Academy, Newcastle (UK)
15.04.2014 Academy, Glasgow (UK)
16.04.2014 Academy, Birmingham (UK)
18.04.2014 Jarhunderthalle, Frankfurt (GER)
19.04.2014 Thueringenhalle, Erfurt (GER)
20.04.2014 Columbiahalle, Berlin (GER)
22.04.2014 Bikini, Toulouse (FRA)
24.04.2014 Radiant, Lyon (FRA)
25.04.2014 Zenith, Paris (FRA)
27.04.2014 Zenith, Nantes (FRA)
28.04.2014 L'aeroneuf, Lille (FRA)
29.04.2014 Lotto Arena, Antwerp (BE)
02.05.2014 Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam (NE)

Find Delain on Facebook, Twitter and their official website.

The Ferryman's Eyes - Jeremy Lawler's Winter's Edge

Today is the day the album The Ferryman’s Eyes hits the online retailers i.e. Amazon and iTunes. This album is by metal project Jeremy Lawler’s Winter’s Edge; it’s an album like no other and here’s why you should listen to it.

Atmospheric opening track From Death I Come sets the mood of the album perfectly; mysterious and aloof encouraging the listener to find out more about this projects sound. As the album progresses I am reminded of Avantasia as the songs feature guest musicians making the tracks sound very dramatic, the fact it’s a concept album about the story of The Ferryman’s Life and the melodies are quite similar.

My personal favourite tracks on the album are Fallen and Foresee Me And Dream; I believe these are the albums strongest tracks as they give us a taste of the band’s sound in general. Fallen shows off vocalists ability perfectly and the melody is well arranged and written. Foresee Me And Dream reminds me of Avantastia’s Dying For An Angel; I particularly like the keyboard solos in the track.

It finishes with the almighty Beyond The Severed Gates that leaves the listener wanting more.

After listening to the album I can definitely say it will open doors not just for the guest musicians on the album but also for composer and project leader/composer Jeremy Lawler himself.

Stand out tracks:  Fallen, Foresee Me And Dream and Beyond The Severed Gates

R.I.Y.L:   Avantasia and Wintersun

Find Jeremy Lawler's Winter's Edge on Facebook and Twitter

Words by Charlotte Whittingham

Monks Of Mellowah - Turn The People

Sounding like the illegitimate lovechild of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Muse, Monks of Mellonwah may have a slightly odd name but damn do these lads deploy funky riffs like nothing I’ve heard before. The kickass cover artwork shows exactly what’s in store, funk, colours and strange happenings for all. Declaring themselves as an Indie/Electronic band Monks of Mellonwah have previously won awards for “Best Indie Rock Band” and “Best International Act”. Turn The People is their debut album.

Opener and lead single “Ghost Stories” slowly coils and burns into an anthemic climax and is over far too soon, whereas “Vanity” builds upon a riff in the same style as Velvet Revolver. When even the electronic elements of an album can carry emotions you know that you are into something big. Monks of Mellonwah are able to mash together minimalistic moments with heart pounding, life affirming choruses.  An all too common feature in releases like this is lyrics that do not live up to the technical and expressive music. I’m glad to say that the lyrical content here is mature and often adds that little extra to a track. Even to go far enough to make a listener feel exactly what a track is about. One of the standout tracks that does this is “Tear Your Hate Apart”.

Nice to know I failed you again
I'm sinking, stumbling I don't know the way
Nice to know you'll all be OK
My only question
What remains of me?

Monks of Mellonwah have constructed something a little special here, an album that conveys a palette of emotions whilst still being easy to pick up. Prepare when this drops people, this will be the start of something big.

Words by Jack Webb