|
|
 |
For all its ambitious plotting, baroque soundscapes, and unquestionable technical merits, Epica's first album was distinctly lacking in the most crucial of categories: songwriting. In fact, it pretty much proved the point that musical education doesn't necessarily guarantee musical inspiration, ultimately achieving surprisingly little purchase in one's memory banks for an album so rife with Strum und Drang. In retrospect, it may also have been somewhat rushed in its construction, what with guitarist and creative leader Mark Jansen possibly being a little too anxious to prove his own mettle after quitting After Forever -- the band founded with his sister Floor, and who in fact helped pioneer the symphonic/progressive/power metal style still on dominant display here. Longer preparation has certainly had a positive effect on the sophomore effort, but, if anything, Epica remain more committed to that original vision than the increasingly modern-sounding (though no less progressive) After Forever, insisting on employing human choirs and orchestras throughout Consign to Oblivion, and rarely letting mezzo-soprano Simone Simons stray from an operatically correct delivery. Jansen's death growls have also taken a noticeable back seat this time around, but that's not to say that typical offerings such as "Dance of Fate," "Blank Infinity," and "Force of the Shore" fail to provide plenty of heavy staccato guitar riffing and hyperactive double kick drums. Single candidate "Solitary Ground," on the other hand, finds an adequate middle ground between rocker and ballad; "Quietus" pretty much waltzes away from start to finish; and the symphonic overkill is finally toned down for the surprisingly pop-campy, harpsichord-led ballad "Trois Vierges" (big-time Nightwish influence), on which Simons is joined by Kamelot vocalist Roy Kahn. And don't forget the four different movements of a fatalistic suite subtitled "A New Age Dawns" (partly sung in Latin, and decrying man's folly with nature -- you know the drill), which are strewn about the album in somewhat arbitrary fashion, and may only confuse things further. Nevertheless, Consign to Oblivion's overall presentation is as immaculate as its predecessor's, and definitely an improvement from a compositional perspective, promising better things to come in Epica's future. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia
Audio Mixer: Sascha Paeth.
Recording information: Gate Studio, Wolfsburg, Germany (07/2004-10/2004); Smash Recordings (07/2004-10/2004).
Editor: Amanda Somerville.
Epica: Simone Simons (vocals); Coen Janssen (keyboards); Yves Huts (bass guitar); Mark Jansen, Ad Sluijter, Jeroen Simons.
Personnel: Amanda Somerville (vocals); Bridget Fogle (soprano); Andre Matos (tenor); Mark Jansen, Ad Sluijter (guitar); Sascha Paeth (acoustic guitar); Benjamin Spillner, Tobias Rempe, Gregor Dierck, Andreas Pfaff (violin); Swantje Tessmann, Astrid Müller (viola); Jörn Kellermann (cello); Jeroen Simons (drums, percussion).
Kerrang (Magazine) (p.48) - "Epica take their atmospheric cues from the romantic bluster of film soundtracks, but with a tangible death metal influence in some of the riffs and plenty of overblown, operatic pomposity, this is a heavier, more dynamic proposition overall."
Consign To Oblivion Music
Epica - Consign To Oblivion Songs
Consign To Oblivion Music Review
Average Rating: (4.7 out of 5 stars)    List All 7 Reviews why the growling
This album is great,the music,the songwriting is high quality,if only they would leave out the growling.These guys are very talented and they do not need this sily monster sound.If they would just leave it out,it would be a 5 star album.
Submitted by george (canada) 
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
 POWERFUL MUSIC WITH BEAUTIFUL VOCALS
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR ANYONE WHO APPRECIATES METAL GUITAR MIXED WITH OPERATIC VOCALS.
Submitted by TOOTERMODULE (SPARKS, NV. USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
The growling's gotta go
they are a great band, and this is a great album. but the growling ruins the songs. it may make them unique, but one pile of crap may have corn in it than the other and be "unique" but it's still crap.
great album tho
Submitted by Paul (Goldsboro, NC, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No The growling makes it unique
The growling and mezzo soprano vocals is what makes the album and the band unique. The growling SHOULD stay.
Submitted by necrosadist (Aurora)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No One of the best albums of 2005
This album is simply amazing. It makes their debut album sound extremely weak. Simone's vocals are much better here, and the music is more organized. Besides the tracks "Trios Vierges" and "Consign To Oblivion", all the songs are brilliant. Highlights are; "The Last Crusade", "Another Me" and "Quietus". Best song of the album is definetly "Mother Of Light". Also try The Silent Force - Within Temptation or Vinland Saga - Leaves' Eyes.
Submitted by walteraquilina (Malta)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No List All Reviews | Have you heard this album? |  |
Purchase Consign To Oblivion CD
To buy, Click on price to add to cart
|
|
|
|
|
Share this Product