SCYTHE OF ORION - review added 11th June 2009
Album Review: X-lives EP (2009)
For fans of: Symphonic Metal... and vocals that could cause debate
The X-lives EP is the first proper release from Finnish band Scythe of Orion since a single 'The Dawn Of The Scythe Of Orion' in 2007.
The band, consisting of Jani Lahnavik (drums), Antti Horttana (bass), Petri Lamminsaari (guitar), Kristian Wrang (keyboards), Maarit Koivisto (violin) and Anu Kaunisto (vocals), play a complex, multi-layered symphonic metal with hints of prog, opera and folk.
Anu Kaunisto's vocals tend to dominate proceedings throughout the album. She has a powerful voice with an unusual tone. It's hard to work out whether she's awe-inspiring or terrifying. She is definitely unlike other singers of this ilk - Tarja Turunen, Sharon den Adel etc. - but the fact she doesn't do that pure operatic thing may stand her in good stead.
The songs on X-lives are reasonably entertaining. 'Journey' features some, er, interesting piano/guitar interludes with a heavy slice of freeform jazz - i.e. everything is out of sync. 'Behind The Cloud' has a bounding main riff and a catchy nature. The title track has some gothic violin in the background which adds a level of maturity to the track.
X-lives is one of those releases that's worth a couple of listens but you probably won't come back for thirds. The drumming, in fact most of the musicianship is good. The singing is an acquired taste, but the mixing and producing really let the side down. The layers of music are not balanced and harmonized, leaving a ragged result that hints at amateurish in a genre that thrives on professionalism. I'll be interested to see what they pump out in the future, but this doesn't do it for me.
Check out... the vocals. Scary or brilliant? It's really hard to tell!
Track List:
01. The Open Space Of Imagination
02. Shadowland
03. Journey
04. Behind The Cloud
05. X-lives
Artist's websites: Scythe Of Orion
