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Review:
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From mastermind Bernard Daubresse comes this epic metal
opera with no less than 20 guest artists. It is a theme
album rather a concept album piece so each song stands on
it's own, with thought provoking lyrics based on the human
condition - ambition, regrets, failure, separation, fear
of death, lies and deception, religion, self actualisation,
spirituality etc., experiences we have all had in our lives.
Featured singers include Kristell Lowagie (ex Skeptical
Minds, now Lovelorn), Marja Supponen (Rhinestone Lives),
Jamie-Lee Smit (Azylya), Justine Daaé (Ellyose), Lauryn
Gaet (ex Aedden, classical solo artist), and Laura Crowet
(ex Before Silence), plus an extensive cast of gentlemen
and soloists. The singers are carefully chosen to suit the
mood of the music and the character they are playing. Although
some are not well known, all the vocal performances are
outstanding, and they have at least a song or a duet each.
Musically you can reference Delain, Therion, early Epica,
Ayreon, Lacuna Coil and Evanescence leading in broad terms
to symphonic gothic metal, but with influences from other
genres including prog and alternative rock/metal. Talking
of Epica, their bass player Yves Huts created the orchestral
arrangements that grace many of the songs. After meeting
during the recording of the album Bernard and Kristell have
formed the new group Lovelorn who are about to release their
début EP 'An Intense Feeling of Affection'. The album is
packed with catchy symphonic metal tracks 'The Middle Path',
'Mirror Mirror' and 'Starchild'; belting gothic rockers
'The Wait' and 'In a War'; melodic prog numbers 'I Am God'
and 'The Naked Ape'; and the immense symphonic piledriver
'Jennifer', all featuring terrific choruses and loads of
excellent instrumental solos. It all culminates with the
four part 'Road To Consciousness', starting with the ballad
'Even a Rose', the violent 'The Limbo' featuring some black
metal screaming, the only extreme vocals on the whole album,
the orchestral 'The Choice', and lastly 'Consciousness'
which starts as a prog metal workout featuring the guest
soloists before becoming a sing-along with all the performers,
the delightfully named Hangover Choir, bringing the album
to a fitting finale (a preview is on the Female Voices blog).
All I can say is WOW! what an record, a project like this
doesn't come along very often with this quality of songwriting,
performance and production. It all comes beautifully packaged
as well and is available from their website www.roadtoconsciousness.com
, a must buy 9.5 out of 10.
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