Band: Sirenia
Country of Origin: Norway
Status: Active
Genre: Symphonic Gothic metal
Type: Full length
Format: CD
Length Approx.: 01:13:00 min.
Release Date EU: 05-08-2015
Release Date US: 05-12-2015
Release Date US: 05-12-2015
Current label: Napalm Records
Release label: Napalm Records
Release label: Napalm Records
Seventh opus with overflowing energy and a tragidienne finale
Mortem
Veland is a very well known name in the metal scene, former guitarist of
Tristania, he began his adventure under the name of "Master of
Sirenia" around 2001, soon shorten the name to "Sirenia" and
from then a lot of people around the globe has known his path, talented
musician has crafted a singular and reliable sound which define his career,
alongside with the Spanish Ailyn a classical singer, her voice stands out for
the charming and sweet melodies, her presence on stage is undisputable, there
is no doubt, both are the perfect to each other.
Sirenia has been through some line-up changes
overs the years, but seems like they has now settled with a fixed and strong
line-up, Jonathan A. Perez taking over the drums and Jan Erik Soltvedt as lead
guitar.
Less than two years ago, Sirenia released
their album "Perils of the Deep Blue" which has a really good
reception between fans and media, setting up a great expectation to the
following album, I think this time they choose to follow a safe path and their
newest release "The Seventh Life Path" surely accomplished what they
have in mind perfecting their sound, captured in their previous record
"Perils of the Deep Blue" a mixture of Gothic metal and classic
orchestrations adding some traces of extreme metal genres, here they have
powerful drums, rhythm guitars, atmospheric keyboards, terrific bass, vocals
are versatile and wide range from clean female vocals, choirs, grunts,
whispers, and clean male vocals, the lyrical themes are varied based in life,
death, hate, love, mental decline, etc. their music could be described as
vehement transporting you into different atmospheres.
While I was writing this review for some
reason at one point was like listening to their album "An Elixir for
Existence" released in 2004, but not quite, because "'The Seventh
Life Path" has guitars more fresh, more according to the actual sound,
this album opens with "Seti" an orchestration that serves as an
introduction, celestial choirs are also present, the third track "Once my
Light" it was the first single of this album, groovy riff, flawless
drumming powerful at some time and lots of feeling in the slow parts, makes
this song sinking deeper in your mind, "Elixir" has a catchy rhythm
riff along the song, the keyboard add dimension to this song then comes the
guitar solo by Veland definitely a good song! "Sons of the North" the
longest track of this album has a terrific bass intro that will make you move then unfortunately
the power earned at the beginning, fade away into an orchestral abscess, "Earendel"
is an overflowing energy track rapidly all the elements are revealed really
enjoyable, the interlude sounds to me like they added accordion notes, which
make it interesting, "Concealed Disdain" the riff are solid and
heavy, violins along the song in the background incorporate the symphonic vibe
and a guitar solo well executed, "Comptemptuous Quietus" it might
have one of the best riff in the whole album groovy, melodic and blunt the
vocals are simply great by Ailyn, "The Silver Eye" has tremendous
melody from beginning the symphonic arrangements are outstanding and the focal
point are Velands growls battling Ailyn's delicate voice, the closing track is
"Tragedienne" is a ballad with acoustic guitars and piano gave life
to this cut slowly adding drums to make it sound memorable, here is when you
can appreciate the strength and vocal capacity of Ailyn, however seems to me
this cut was a leftover from their previous record and cracks the flow built
along the album, nothing wrong with the song, in fact I have to admit it I like
it! but surely it wasn't the end we were expecting after listen "The
Silver Eye", the limited edition contains a bonus track which is “Tragica”
the Spanish version of “Tragedienne”.
I want to end adding few things, their seventh opus
mark their return to it's former record label Napalm Records, is undoubtedly
that Sirenia has found the path where they belong, the production is clear,
solid so we can appreciate all the elements blending in a natural way in this
album, Ailyn's voice is stoic a bit lack of power at moments, but nothing that
they cannot improve for the next album, meanwhile "The Seventh Life
Path" ensures them a spot in the top bands within the sub-genre.
Stay
True... Stay Metal… Stay Brutal…
Track List:
1. Seti
2. Serpent
3. Once my Light
4. Elixir
5. Sons of the North
6. Earendel
7. Concealed Disdain
8. Insania
9. Contemptuous Quitos
10. The Silver Eye
11.
Tragedienne
Official Website
Napalm Records
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