September Mourning - Melancholia
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I was not waiting with anticipation for the debut album of this project. Not after their demo, "Children of fate", came out, in sound and vocals close by to plush "goth" icons like Evanescence. However, the band announced upcoming of a great musical history – every single song was supposed to be about emotions of September (grim reaper), a musical spectacle’s heroine that swallows human souls. Those arguments left me feeling helpless. Heavy music, female voice and a story of a female grim reaper – curiosity overpowered reason.
The opening track "Go for the Throat" throws you almost by force to the aforementioned story – that’s how heavy are the guitars and how sharp is the vocal line in the song. First of all, the vocals in this and the next track, "A place to call your own", calls for special attention. The band manages well mixing the heaviness with sweet voice of Emily Lazar. Musically – two songs almost completely alike, constructed in the same way with heavy guitars and sweeping drums. The track "Always", again, reminds of Evanescence’s plush compositions, thankfully the impression disappears somewhere around second minute. Lazar sings the second verse with a better feeling, showing more of her vocal abilities. Actually, the song "Fallen" is structured in almost the same way – same ifs and buts, although musically it’s kept in a pleasant, guitar climate, mixed with skillfully composed synthesizers in the background. "Love is war" is in sound a reminiscent of first two tracks – mixed vocals and hardcore guitars with a bit more audible base line. "Lost Angels" is an introduction to more grim and melancholic songs, from which the most interesting is "Crimson Skies" – a minor track yet sung powerfully and strongly. However Seal your fate sounds next to it almost angry. It’s a real gem, a track with strong vocals and varied music background, still guitar-oriented still rock-like and yet more electronic and definitely more rhythmic. Two last tracks – "Beyond the grave" and "Last embrace" – are simply the repetition of the strongest points presented in previous songs. Thus the album ends with strong yet a bit tricky sounds.
Contrary to anticipations, the time spent with "Melancholia" was not a loss of time. Although the album is musically monotonous, chaotic at times and without rhythm – in a bad sense – it’s saved mostly by Lazar’s vocals, perfect and original. The voice is strong and flexible, it’s sometimes causing the unfinished musical background to fade away. On the other hand, the gems like "Crimson Skies", "Last embrace" and, first and foremost, "Seal your fate" show that the band can do more than those few chords repeated over and over again. Than again, let’s not forget about the story. The interpretation and introduction into the music I’ll leave to every single one of the listeners (it’s easy to miss, by the way). Maybe the debut is not marvelous but intriguing for sure. I’ll be waiting for the next release, for a change. I recommend this album to those who are not afraid of "pink" moments.
Track list:
01. Go for the throat
02. A place to call your own
03. Always
04. Fallen
05. Love is war
06. Lost angels
07. Crimson skies
08. Seal your fate
09. Beyond the grave
10. Last embrace
The opening track "Go for the Throat" throws you almost by force to the aforementioned story – that’s how heavy are the guitars and how sharp is the vocal line in the song. First of all, the vocals in this and the next track, "A place to call your own", calls for special attention. The band manages well mixing the heaviness with sweet voice of Emily Lazar. Musically – two songs almost completely alike, constructed in the same way with heavy guitars and sweeping drums. The track "Always", again, reminds of Evanescence’s plush compositions, thankfully the impression disappears somewhere around second minute. Lazar sings the second verse with a better feeling, showing more of her vocal abilities. Actually, the song "Fallen" is structured in almost the same way – same ifs and buts, although musically it’s kept in a pleasant, guitar climate, mixed with skillfully composed synthesizers in the background. "Love is war" is in sound a reminiscent of first two tracks – mixed vocals and hardcore guitars with a bit more audible base line. "Lost Angels" is an introduction to more grim and melancholic songs, from which the most interesting is "Crimson Skies" – a minor track yet sung powerfully and strongly. However Seal your fate sounds next to it almost angry. It’s a real gem, a track with strong vocals and varied music background, still guitar-oriented still rock-like and yet more electronic and definitely more rhythmic. Two last tracks – "Beyond the grave" and "Last embrace" – are simply the repetition of the strongest points presented in previous songs. Thus the album ends with strong yet a bit tricky sounds.
Contrary to anticipations, the time spent with "Melancholia" was not a loss of time. Although the album is musically monotonous, chaotic at times and without rhythm – in a bad sense – it’s saved mostly by Lazar’s vocals, perfect and original. The voice is strong and flexible, it’s sometimes causing the unfinished musical background to fade away. On the other hand, the gems like "Crimson Skies", "Last embrace" and, first and foremost, "Seal your fate" show that the band can do more than those few chords repeated over and over again. Than again, let’s not forget about the story. The interpretation and introduction into the music I’ll leave to every single one of the listeners (it’s easy to miss, by the way). Maybe the debut is not marvelous but intriguing for sure. I’ll be waiting for the next release, for a change. I recommend this album to those who are not afraid of "pink" moments.
Track list:
01. Go for the throat
02. A place to call your own
03. Always
04. Fallen
05. Love is war
06. Lost angels
07. Crimson skies
08. Seal your fate
09. Beyond the grave
10. Last embrace
