Northern Kings - Reborn (2007)

Format: ape + cue + log

Genre: Symphonic Metal, Power Metal

Release Date: 2007

Label: Warner Music Finland

Northern Kings:

Marco Hietala - vocals

Tony Kakko - vocals

Jarkko Ahola - vocals

Juha-Pekka Leppäluoto - vocals

Musicians:

Two Finger Choir: Backing Vocals

Vili Ollila: Piano, Keyboards, Programming

Erkka Korhonen: Lead & Rhythm Guitars

Erkki Silvennoinen: Bass

Anssi Nykanen, Sami Osala: Drums, Percussion

Review from amazon, revelationz.net

Northern Kings is a Finnish symphonic metal cover supergroup. The Kings are comprised of four vocalists, who are all frontmen of successful Finnish heavy metal bands — Marco Hietala from ‘Nightwish’ and ‘Tarot’, Tony Kakko from ‘Sonata Arctica’, JP Leppaluoto from ‘Charon’ and Jarkko Ahola from ‘Terasbetoni’. Each vocalist has his own trademark sound, including deep, satanic, operatic metal rock vocals. It’s all-consuming and larger than life.

The band masterminded the idea of recording their own metal versions of an electic selection of pop staples. Unlike most bands who try to reproduce the sound and arrangements of the original songs, the Northern Kings have deconstructed the arrangements, by coming up with their own renditions, most of which is backed with metal guitars, a full symphonic orchestral backing, and electronic enhancements.

The general vibe on the album is to give the metal makeover a fully orchestrated backing (string section, the works), with some electronic noodling thrown in . The metal guitars are prevalent, but there is the northern vibe of the band’s renditions. It’s not a gimmick, but it is very dramatic, very lush and grandoise sounding.

The sonic attack of the bands’ take on each song just blows you away. Unlike most artists or bands who record a cover, the version is traditionally inferior and not a patch on the original. It’s quite an accomplishment to take a song like Peter Gabriel’s ‘Sledgehammer’ or Lionel Richie’s ‘Hello’ and give it a new lease of life.

Hearing songs from a variety of genres and decades turned completely on their heads is an awesome way to spend the afternoon, especially when the tracks are tackled with such passion and no thought to consequence in forcing the listener to think outside the box.

You’ve heard these songs before… just never like this.

Delain - Lucidity (2006)

Format: flac + cue + log

Genre: Gothic Metal, Symphonic Metal

Release Date: 2006

Label: Roadrunner Records

-Miembros-

Martijn Westerholt - Keyboards

Charlotte Wessels - Vocals

Ronald Landa - Guitar, Vocals

Rob van der Loo - Bass

Sander Zoer - Drums

Miembros Anteriores

Ray van Lente - Guitar

Anne Invernizzi - Vocals

Roy van Enkhuyzen - Guitar

Tim Kuper - Drums

Colaboraciones

Marco Hietala (Nightwish, Tarot)

Ad Sluijter (Epica)

Ariën van Weesenbeek (God Dethroned)

Sharon den Adel (Within Temptation)

Liv Kristine (Leaves' Eyes)

George Oosterhoek (Orphanage)

Guus Eikens (Orphanage)

Jan Yrlund

Lucydity es el impresionante álbum debut de Delain, un proyecto único de Rock Gótico iniciado por el Tecladista Martijn Westerholt. (ex-Within Tempation). Él se ha rodeado de un número de músicos extremadamente talentosos tales como el Bajista Marko Hielata (Nightwish, Tarot), el Guitarrista Jan Yrlund (ex-Lacrimosa) y la vocalista Noruega Liv Kristine (ex-Theatre of Tragedy, Leaves’ Eyes).

Un número de renombrados músicos Holandeses de Rock tmbién contribuyeron al proyecto: La cantante Sharon den Adel (Within Temptation), el guitarrista Ad Sluyter (Epica), el baterista Ariën van Weezenbeek (God Dethroned) , el cantante George Oosthoek y guitarrista Guus Eikens (ex-Orphanage). Delain también tiene lugar para el nuevo talento: la Joven y relativamente desconocida cantante Charlotte Wessels (ex-To Elysium) contribuyendo con la mayoría de las voces en el álbum.

Imagina esto..Has sido parte de una banda por 5 años, y cuando finalmente terminan, eres incapaz de cosechar el fruto del éxito! Eso le pasó a Martijn Westerholt. Desde 1996 hasta 2001, él fue un miembro de tiempo completo de Within Temptation, por ahora una de las bandas de rock holandesas más exitosas e internacionalmente renombradas.

Mientras su hermano Robert y sus compañeros goth-rockers holandeses continúan en la conquista del mundo, Martijn fue forzado a dejar la banda por una enfermedad crónica. Pero el no se dio por vencido. Tan pronto como se recuperó físicamente comenzó a escribir canciones de nuevo, al principio fue sólo una manera de pasar el tiempo, pero con ello se sintió tan bien, que decidió hacer música a un nivel profesional, una música que era más fuerte día con día. Lento pero seguro, su idea para un proyecto musical empezó a tomar forma.

Martijn hizo una lista de músicos talentosos y empezó contactar con cada uno personalmente, mandándoles demos y haciendo llamadas telefónicas. Mas pronto de lo que esperaba su lista empezó a materializarse en un proyecto de talla internacional. Lo llamó “Delain”, inspirado por The Kingdom of Delain de “The Eyes of the Dragon(Los ojos del dragón) de Stephen King.

En Julio del 2005, Delain firmó un contrato de grabación con !Roadrunner Records!, la última etiqueta del metal y el socio ideal para Delain por sus contactos internacionales y su conocimiento del género. Muy pronto, Delain empezó a grabar su álbum debut en Alemania, Finlandia, Suecia y en los Países bajos con Oliver Phillips y el mismo Martijn en el escritorio de la producción, mientras Stefan Helleblad (Opeth, Rammstein and Dark Funeral) hizo el mezclado final.

Delain es una banda excepcional por que desde que este proyecto empezó, Los músicos y vocalistas en Lucidity (los cuales son muy variados) dejaron toda su marca plasmada. “Quise alentar la interacción entre los diferentes músicos,” dijo el líder del proyecto Martijn. Pero a pesar de su papel prominente, él dió suficientes espacios para contribuciones personales. “Pienso que es importante crear una vivencia positiva en el estudio, tenía la última palabra con respecto a todo el sonido, pero me cercioré de que mi ego no se interpusiera en el mejor resultado final.”

A pesar del hecho de que Delain es, primero que nada, un proyecto, Martijn y la talentosa Charlotte Wessels hacen la base de la banda, Martijn escribió la mayoría de las canciones, mientras la característica voz de Charlotte le dan a Delain su propia identidad. Su sereno y dulce sonido difiere de la mayoría de las voces de Opera del estilo muy típicas en el genero gótico. Martijn conoció a Charlotte por casualidad cuando ella tenía 18 años. Él no estaba en busca de una vocalista líder en este tiempo, así que sólo le preguntó sobre escribir letras y partes vocales. Pero cuando la escuchó cantar unos cuantos tracks en el estudio, se impresionó tanto que de inmediato le preguntó si quería unirse a Delain.

Lucidity contiene algunos duetos interesantes: Liv Kristine canta con Marko Hielata en ‘Day For Ghosts’ y con Charlotte en ‘See Me In Shadow’. LA peculiar voz de Sharon den Ade es un gran contraparte para la intensa voz de Marko en ‘No Compliance’, mientras la voz gutural de George Oosthoek combina muy bien con la voz pacifica de Charlotte en otras pistas.

A pesar, o debido a, la diversidad de músicos y vocalistas en el álbum, las canciones en Lucidity forman una unidad atractiva. Las características musicales de Delain son los prominentes teclados, coros deslumbrantes y cambios de tempo, adherido con guitarras “Heavy”, baterías rápidas y poderosas y grandes melodías. “Amo la música hermosa, melancólica y poderosa, incluso la eufórica, pero lo más importante para mi es la vibra que una canción tiene ” explica Martijn.

El lanzamiento del álbum será precedido por el lanzamiento del primer sencillo “Frozen”, que contiene los mismos ingredientes de la mayoría de las canciones de Lucidity: coros pegajosos, rasgueos fuertes, solos de guitarra, coros, pero también un cambio más suave y melódico. En resumen, es una gran probada de todo lo que Delain tiene para ofrecer.
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Еpica - The Phantom Agony 2003

Genre: symphonic metal
Format: flac + cue + log
Released: 2003
Label: The End Records

1. Adyta (The Neverending Embrace)

2. Sensorium

3. Cry for the Moon (The Embrace That Smothers, Pt. 4)

4. Feint

5. Illusive Consensus

6. Facade of Reality (The Embrace That Smothers, Pt. 5)

7. Run for a Fall

8. Seif al Din (The Embrace That Smothers, Pt. 6)

9. Phantom Agony

Simone Simons

-- mezzo-soprano

Mark Jansen

-- guitars, grunts, screams, orchestral arrangements

Ad Sluijter

-- guitars

Coen Janssen

-- synths & piano, orchestral and choir arrangements

Yves Huts

-- bass guitar

Jeroen Simons

-- drums

Epica Orchestra:

Thomas Glöckner - violin

Andreas Pfaff - violin

Tobias Rempe - violin

Marie-Theres Stumpf - viola

David Schlage - viola

Jörn Kellermann - cello

Cordula Rhode - cello

Andrè Neygenfind - contrabass

Epica Choir:

Melvin Edmonsen - bass

Previn Moore - tenor

Bridget Fogle - alto

Cinzia Rizzo - alto

Annie Goeble - soprano

Amanda Somerville - soprano, vocal coach

Additional musicians

Olaf Reitmeier - acoustic guitars on "Feint" and "Run for a Fall", engineer

Annette Berryman - flute on "Run for a Fall"

Marcel, ProgPower Online, 7/03

"A new chapter in the successful book of Gothic Metal is written by guitarist and composer Mark Jansen (ex-After Forever), so forget everything you have heard so far and prepare yourself for the awesome beauty of Epica. Inspired by the Arab culture, Epica brings a unique blend of classical orchestra and choir, brutal grunts and screams and the exquisite mezzo soprano vocals of Simone Simons. (...) From the moment you hear the first notes of ‘Adyta’, you are captured by the beautiful and mysterious atmosphere of 'The Phantom Agony', where Arab and Latin influences are mixed with powerful drums and shredding guitars and garnished with grunts and screams by Mark Jansen. Vocalist Simone Simons is a true revelation, as she seemed to have walked right out of an opera, straight into Epica, and it is a pure delight to hear her sing. The use of a real choir as well as choir samples add to the atmosphere in the songs. (...) Of course, if you listen to The Phantom Agony, you hear a sound which is very similar to After Forever, no surprise as mark Jansen was one of the main songwriters in After Forever. However, do not make the mistake to view Epica as just a clone of After Forever! Epica is an entirely separate band with their own sound, that differs enough from After Forever, as it is less metal and more classical influences...."

Adagio - Sanctus Ignis 2001

Genre: Neo-classical Metal, Progressive Metal
Format: flac + cue + log
Released: 2001
Label: SPV

01. Second Sight

02. The Inner Road

03. In Nomine...

04. The Stringless Violin

05. Seven Lands of Sin

06. Order of Enlil

07. Sanctus Ignis

08. Paneut et Circences

09. Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin cover)

10. Niflheim [Instrumental-Demo]

Dirk Bruinenberg: Drums
Stephan Forte: Guitars, Keyboards
Franck Hermanny: Bass
Richard Andersson: Keyboards
David Readman: Vocal

Sabine Hartel: Violin

Fans of Adagio do know that its leader has always been Stephan Forte. A French guitarist heard Yngwie Malmsteen in his youth and was convinced what he should do in the future. He studied at CMCN (International Music Academy in Nancy) and graduated from it in the year 1997. His musical taste surely took a right shape after listening to the greatest world's composers like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Yngwie Malmsteen, Paco De Lucia, baroque, jazz and fusion music. Stephan recorded an instrumental demo "Visions" in 1996 that was a herald of Adagio in a sense. It was the same with another guitar virtuoso - Michael Romeo who recorded the instrumental album "The Dark Chapter" before the debut of Symphony X. Mr. Forte played as a support artist for Yngwie Malmsteen and he has been unfairly compared to a Swede since that moment. Both Stephan and Yngwie play neoclassical elements in their music, but the French guitarist comes from more extreme and progressive school, however the Swedish wizard derives from classic hard rock tradition. You needn't be a music critic to pick out these differences between them. Moreover, Adagio performed live with the likes of Majestic, Double Dealer, Symphony X, Devin Townsend, Matthias Eklundh, Misanthrope, Uli Jon Roth and others.

In the year 1999, Mr. Forte went to Philadelphia in order to record a 4-track demo alongside Vitalij Kuprij. They were going to found a new band together, but never happened so far. Fortunately, their efforts didn't go to waste, and both men's talents were used in Adagio's music. To be formally correct, I inform that the band was founded in the year 2000.

I'd like you to be aware that "Sanctus Ignis" ("Holy Fire") was written by 25-year old Stephan Forte (guitars, keys programming; Red Circuit). As you see, it doesn't matter if you are young or elder, the most important thing is to be a gifted artist who can express his (her) emotions in a right way. I have no doubt he is a talented instrumentalist, and its proof are many musicians who are and were willing to cooperate with him: David Readman (vocals; Pink Cream 69), Dirk Bruinberg (drums; Elegy, Patrick Rondat, The Consortium Project), Franck Hermanny (bass guitar; Cyril Achard, Venturia), Vitalij Kuprij (keys; Artension, Ring Of Fire) and Richard Andersson (keys; Majestic, Time Requiem, Space Odyssey). There is also less known violinist player - Sabine Härtel whose solo can be audible on one of tracks. I don't believe that the Stephan Forte crew could produce something mediocre. Such a conviction accompanied me before the listening, and I confirmed myself in this conviction after it. I am also not surprised that Mr. Forte called his band Adagio, since the music is full of dramaturgic elements and solemnity, and most compositions are performed in minor keys. Listening to the likes of "In Nomine..." and "Seven Lands of Sin", we come back to more extreme Stephan's roots and convince ourselves that he ably managed to transfer death metal heaviness to progressive music. Here are impressive and complex orchestrations varied by Andersson's and Kuprij's keyboard progression. To be honest, I can't imagine myself Adagio's music without the keys. We can pick out some similarities in Stephan's playing to Michael Romeo's and Roger Staffelbach's manners, however his performance is characterized by an absolute precision in execution (typical of a mentioned three instrumentalists). We can't forget about David Readman whose vocal is as melodic and expressive as John West's and Russell Allen's. An unquestionable advantage of "Sanctus Ignis" is a diversification within the genre. Beside the traditional fundament of progression, on which a whole Adagio's output is grounded, we can as well select the baroque influences, oriental ones (on instrumental masterpiece "Order of Enlil"), film ("Niflheim" demo version) and even more direct inspirations by a Hungarian composer - Bela Bartok's violin concertos. A great surprise turned to be one of Led Zeppelin's classics - "Immigrant Song" that sounds like Adagio's original track. This one immersed into the progressive sauce discloses us a completely different face of the first version, keeping only a faint outline of the original.

With this stuff Adagio opened themselves the doors to the progressive world lining up next to Symphony X and Artension. It's great that Dennis Ward (Pink Cream 69, Vanden Plas, DC Cooper, Symphorce, Axxis) produced "Sanctus Ignis", since he secured a solid and own sound for Adagio. Such a professional producer can't let himself any shortcomings. The international crew did a work very well and presented us neoclassical progpower made of a pure ore.

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