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Review:
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Like fellow Finns Indica, HB have released several
albums in their native language for the domestic market,
but only one in English that is intended for international
consumption. This is in fact the English language version
of their album ‘Enne’, which was very successful in their
homeland. They are a proudly Christian band, hence their
name and keyboarder Antti Niskala’s spiritual lyrics. Their
music, not surprisingly, owes a nod to those other famous
Finns, Nightwish, but it leans more towards Lunatica, with
a healthy helping of Within Temptation. Johanna Aaltonen
has a lovely voice, not too far away from Andrea Dätwyler.
Unusually it starts with an a cappella intro before the
awesome ‘God Has All Glory’ bursts through the speakers,
packed with choir and orchestra. ‘Is It Time’ is a stomping,
stirring rocker, the video is on the Female Voices Blog.
‘Be Aware’ has delightful intricate instrumentation, a soaring
chorus and a ripping guitar solo by Janne Karhunen. ‘Holy
Secret’ is a gorgeous piano power ballad with plaintive
cello, followed by the epic and melodic title track ‘Frozen
Inside’ that builds in power. More wonderful piano introduces
the emotive lighter waving swayer ‘Years Go By’, before
they pick it up again with the anthemic ‘Ambition’. ‘Way’
is a gentle song that features just Johanna, Fender Rhodes,
choir and strings, with a narrated spoken sermon passage,
and the final tune, ‘The Lovesong’, is a rousing hymn. Top
quality production, song writing and musicianship make this
a perfect buy for all fans of gothic symphonic metal and
melodic rock. It is available from a wide range of stockist,
a list of some of them is on their Myspace http://www.myspace.com/hbmetal
, a highly recommended 9 put of 10.
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