Search Music Review Archives 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Music Links:
www.progwalhalla.com
Jerry Lucky Prog Page
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Progland was founded by John Gabbard in 2005. It's purpose has been to provide you, the music community with the latest music and dvd reviews. It will continue to be your link to the most popular music reviews in the progressive world.

 

(C-Rom) - "Flames of Knowledge"

Label - Thundering Records
Reviewed by:

"Philip Wooldridge"- (Ravenheart Music)

Genre:
(Female Fronted) {Rock/Symphonic-Metal}-(Music)
Country:
France
Length:
NA
Release Date:
December 2009
Band Members: Christelle - Vocals Laurent Henniaux - Bass
  Cedric - Guitar Christian Podkowska - Guitar
  Francois - Keyboard, Vocals Axel - Percussions
     
Track Listing: 1.)-Overture -Anger Of The Gods Act I
9.)-Choices
  2.)-Temptation
10.)-Hope
  3.)-Narthex 11.)- Finale - Mercy Of The Gods
  4.)- Awake
  5.)- The Forge  
  6.)-Prometheus  
  7.)-Act II - Pandora  
  8.)-Lord Of Cinders  

Review:

The deuxieme CD from the French collective, fronted by the floating voice of Christelle, is a real tough one to categorise, they blur the boundaries between industrial, gothic, darkwave, new wave, alt rock, symphonic and metal, with songs based on the Greek legend of Prometheus and Pandora. Try to imagine a Pandora’s Box of symphonic gothic bands like Stream of Passion, Within Temptation, Lacuna Coil, with Rage Against The Machine, L'ame Immortelle industrial and darkwave, Stone Roses brit pop, Muse and synth pop New Order, while taking Athrodite for a bop around the dance floor. The album is presented in two acts with an overture and finale, rather like a theatrical opera, or the good old days of vinyl (ask your granddad). The curtain rises with the symphonic gothic and Muse overture, ‘Anger of the Gods’, with Christelle in semi-operatic mode. Act 1 opens with the marching and galloping symphonic metal and electronica of ‘Temptation’, ‘Narthex’ is a rap metal dance floor filler, with keys player Francoise’s shouts juxtaposed with Christelle’s soft vocals, ‘Awake’ is a more conventional Lacuna Coil type gothic number, ‘The Forge’ is strutting, stomping metal and industrial (the start reminded me of ‘We Will Rock You!), with Christelle’s whispered voice, and finally ‘Prometheus’ is a gentler darkwave and alt rock tune with an ethereal choir, which then builds and soars.

"Time for a quick cup of tea in the interval while I turn the record over, and it’s onto Act 2."

Off we go again with ‘Pandora’, a disco industrial and metal number with a touch of Stone Roses shoegazing about Christelle’s singing, mixed with Lady Gaga, we then tango into ‘Lord of Cinders’ in a Diablo Swing Orchestra (Swedish avant garde) sort of way before it turns symphonic, ‘Choices’ has a blend of metal riffage, darkwave and a hint of New Order synth pop, and finally ‘Hope’ is a brief, but lovely, piano and electronica ballad. The finale ‘Mercy of the Gods’ rounds things off with a flourish of symphonic metal before the curtain falls. This is no Greek tragedy, it may seem like an unlikely bunch of bedfellows, but in the hands of C-Rom it becomes most natural thing in the world. Great to listen to, great to dance to, great to headbang to, you can’t say that about many CD’s. Available from their Myspace site http://www.myspace.com/cromthewindingstar This is highly recommended for, well, just about anyone and everyone! 9 out of 10

 

 

NewReleases

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Copyright @ Teakwood Productions 2000