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Review:
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This is the fifth album by the lovely Nashville musician
who is a big fave here at The Towers. If the word Nashville
brings you out in a cold sweat with thoughts of Stetsons
and cowboy boots, don't panic, Éowyn's music lies somewhere
between Evanescence and Lacuna Coil, with added modern Gary
Numan industrial (mind you, I wear a black Stetson, and
anyone who has been to my Facebook will know I like my hats).
She has a humongous soaring voice with a distinctive tremor
that suits her massive anthems perfectly, and she gives
it plenty of oomph and expression without having to resort
to wailing and shrieking like so many alternative metal/rock
singers. Although devoutly Christian, she is not as overt
as say HB, and as I've said before, there is no reason why
Christian artists should be pigeon-holed, it should not
be an issue. And before you ask, she is nothing to do with
Mr. Tolkien. The songs are packed with huge choruses, booming
synths, rich strings, intriguing samples, twinkling bubbling
electronica, crunchy guitars, banging beats and throbbing
base creating a massive awesome sound courtesy of producer
Travis Wyrick. She opens with a brace of dramatic expressive
songs with soaring refrains, 'You Had To' and title song
'Beautiful Ashes'. Éowyn had to give up full time music
in 2008 due to financial difficulties, years of hard work
burnt to ashes, but after having a terrible time she began
to rebuild her life and career, rediscovering the beauty
amongst the ashes, and thanks to the backing of 180 fans,
who raised $20,000, she was able to produce this new album.
After the moody melodramatic 'More Than Yesterday' comes
a couple of songs, 'Fail-Safe' and 'Dream', that almost
head towards anthemic Within Temptation esque symphonic
with loads of ingenious orchestral sounds. The second half
alternates between tremendous driving groovers with a touch
of Muse, 'Cliché’ and ‘Alive', and expressive soaring songs,
'Burning Pages’ and 'All I Need' that sweep from a whisper
to a roar, and she closes with the curious curio 'The Music
Box'. Not only is this is terrific stuff that all gothic
and alternative metal fans will be burning to get their
hands on, but given the right exposure it will also go down
a storm with the mainstream. Her website lies at http://www.eowynmusic.com/
, a Ravenheart recommended 9 out of 10.
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