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This is the debut album by the Czech quintet founded
by singer Katerina and bass player Jaroush. They started
by doing more acoustic music but soon developed into a gothic
symphonic metal band. The cover artwork will remind Doctor
Who fans of Cassandra, the woman who has lived hundreds
of years but is now just a face. Front lady, the vivacious
Katerina, not only has a lovely pop voice, but she can also
do soaring semi-operatics as well. ****
The album starts with a quartet of catchy, highly melodic,
up-tempo numbers, a cross between Within Temptation�s gothic
metal and Andrew Lloyd Webber, with Rick Wakeman on keys.
The orchestrated �H.O.P.E� is outstanding, and �Free Me�
has a delightful piano intro. For the next four songs (with
a brief orchestral interlude) they shift up a gear into
more Nightwish power metal territory. �Voyage� has superb
synth work, and the operatic �Fragrance of Memories� is
very impressive. They return to a more Within Temptation
vibe on �Life for Sale� with excellent use of synths and
electronica, then �Queen of My Own� with its choral intro.
The album ends with the suitably grand orchestral ballad
�Remember�. ****
None of the songs hang about, they do their job, and
then it�s onto the next, so the album really motors along.
Available on their online shop at
http://www.innocens.net/
or My Space http://www.myspace.com/innocens
I have no hesitation in recommending this
to all symphonic gothic metal fans, indeed anyone who like
great melodic rock music.
9 out of 10.
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