Black Sun Aeon – “Blacklight Deliverance” (2011)

Label : Cyclone Empire Records

Review by Luisa Mercier

Black Sun Aeon is the solo project of Tuomas Saukkonen, who is already involved in many other bands (Before The Dawn, Dawn of Solace, RoutaSielu). He used to keep this project to explore other sides of his music mixing gothic, death, doom never losing sight of melody. While the previous work “Routa” was mainly focused on instrumental music, “Blacklight Deliverance” has two guests singers that alternate in the seven tracks: Mikko Heikkilä and Janica Lönn (female singer from Lunar Path). The opener “Brothers” has powerful yet melodic riffing as only Finnish can craft, while Tuomas growls and Janica creates magical landscapes with her vocalising. Towards the end an acoustic interlude makes everything softer and sweeter. There is a real winter mood throughout the song that goes on with the following “Solitude”. Continue reading »

AMBERIAN DAWN : Announcing new vocalist and a compilation album

Finnish Symphonic Power Metal band has announced their new vocalist (after the departure of Heidi Parvianen) and the recording of a compilation album, read the following statement from the band and mainmain Tuomas Seppälä :

Here’s something more for you eyes and ears. A teaser video of Capri singing some AD songs.

And since we all thought that Capri can sing those “classic” AD songs with new and refreshing style and sound, we decided to re-record a selection of our best songs again with her. Also 75 % of the music stems are going to be re-recorded. Mikko P. Mustonen, who did orchestral arrangements for our previous album (“Circus Black”) will add some more colour to those songs with awesome orchestral additions. He’s also going to mix this album. Release dates, track listing and cover art are to be announced later.

Songwriter Tuomas Seppälä:

For infos check :

http://www.amberiandawn.com/

http://www.facebook.com/amberiandawn?fref=ts

Lullacry – “Where Angels Fear” (2012)

Label : OUTO Recordings/Scarlet Records

Review by Tony Cannella

I had given up all hope that this band even still existed. It has been seven long years since the Finnish hard rock band Lullacry released their last album “Vol. 4″. Now, finally the band returns with a new label (Scarlet Records) and a brand spankin’ new album called “Where Angels Fear”. Musically, not much has changed for Lullacry. They still play hard, straight-forward songs, mixing in hard rock riffs, bordering on metal with healthy doses of melody and attitude. “Antidote to You” gets things off on the right foot, and brings to mind what was always great about Lullacry. There is no major shift in musical style for this band, which is okay in my book. “Still an Angel” is next and speeds up the tempo with a monster guitar riff. Vocalist Tanja Lainio does a great job on the material as she delivers the lyrics with attitude and passion. She really has settled in nicely in the singers’ role for this band. “Thousand Suns” is next and slows the tempo down a bit, but it is still a heavy song and has a goth edge to it. Next is the excellent “Feel My Revenge”. This song features a pretty cool duet between Tanja and producer and ex-Misery Inc. vocalist Mikko Herranen. The following songs, “Bad Blood” (the first video track), “All Behind”, “Gone Are the Days” and “I Am” are all excellent tracks that moves things along at a steady pace. The final track “Stay” is a ballad that brings things to a conclusion on a serene note. Seven years is a long time to wait between albums, but Lullacry has put that time to good use by writing some killer songs for “Where Angels Fear”. Hopefully we will not have to wait another seven years between albums.  ”Where Angels Fear” is like a visit from an old friend. Welcome back, guys and girl!

Rating – 85/100

Tracklist

1. Antidote to You
2. Still An Angel
3. Thousand Suns
4. Feel My Revenge
5. Bad Blood
6. All Behind
7. Gone Are the Days
8. I Am
9. Broken (Into Pieces)
10. Where Angels Fear
11. Stay

Line Up

• Tanja Lainio – Vocals
• Sami Leppikangas – Lead Guitar
• Sauli Kivilahti – Guitar
• Kimmo Hitunen – Bass
• Jukka Outinen – Drums

Links

MySpace * Facebook * Twitter * Site

Interview : Tanja Laino – Lullacry

Interview by Matteo Bussotti

After six years from their previous album, Lullacry are back on the scene with a darker, perfectly-crafted new cd, and they’re ready to rock in the best way they can, rewarding all those fans who waited so long for another release. We interviewed their singer, Tanja, who kindly answered to our questions about her life, her career, and the creative process behind this long-awaited new album.

Hi Tanja! Welcome to Femme Metal Webzine, we are very glad to have you here!

Hi to you! It’s great to be here!

First of all, why name the album “Where Angels Fear”? What’s the meaning behind this name?

Well, six years period is a long time to take a break. All is still relative. We needed that time in order to create something new and we finally did. The album name comes from one of the tracks. The song “Where Angels Fear” presents something old and something new. We made the song already six years ago to the previous album, but we never recorded it. It’s a great piece so we definitely wanted it on this album. For us the name means access out from old fears.

What can you tell us about the album? Are you satisfied with it?

“Where Angels Fear” turned out to be darker and not so party rock, if you know what I mean. This new album has its own style, which of course is a good thing. It’s a bit different than previous albums, but still has the same old Lullacry elements on it, you know.

You’ve published 3 albums so far with Lullacry and you’ve played with them for 10 years so far. Has something changed for you from the beginning of your career? In your opinion, how were Lullacry and how are them now?

When the guys asked me to join the band I was like really uncertain what to do. I mean it wasn’t really sure thing to me to join this band at first. Maybe because I wasn’t familiar with this type of music and I was thinking if I had the power to do it. Otherwise I thought that my own unique style of singing would bring its spice to the whole combination and it did. With this journey I have experienced many things and learned a lot. Ten years ago Lullacry were a punch of crazy youngsters with full of energy and now only with full of energy.. haha!!! (Laughing out hard!) The band has grown over the years as a band musically and mentally.

Moreover, how do you want to be in the future? Is there something you feel you’d do, like, I don’t know, trying new musical genres or experimenting with heavy metal?

I have thought that it would be great to do some kind of other music, experimenting new musical genres. Yeah, it would be great. I have always liked many kind of music. Example I don’t have only one genre that I like. Maybe some kind of solo album would be nice. And of course I would like to do my own music too. In fact, I already have a few of my own songs waiting to be finished.

We know Sami plays a key role in Lullacry. What do you think about Sami as a composer?

Sami has his own unique Lullacry style as a composer. He’s really precise on what he’s doing. He wants to keep the puzzle together, you know. The key role is to keep the vision clear. You can easily say that Sami is the engine of the whole band.

Talking about “Where Angels Fear”, Sami said that : “Last year has probably been the best we’ve had in Lullacry, at least when it comes to vibes. And you can hear that in the album. For the first time I made the songs without thinking that I have to do a goth ballad or a rock song. We just did things more spontaneously and it led to an album that is a lot more dark, ambitious and multi-dimensional than its predecessors.” So, how was the creative process behind this album?

Well, Sami just made those songs. He told us that there were no boundaries. Songs are darker and there are also more complicated arrangements. On the other hand there are some really easy songs like “Stay”. That song is very personal to me. I have made the words with Sami and Mikko. On this album there’s also song from our bass player Heavy. He has done a few songs, which is great.

You sang some songs in the album “Virus” for the French power metal band Heavenly. Can you tell us how this collaboration was born? Have you learned something from Heavenly or from the “French way” of doing metal?

Heavenly guys asked me to sing the duet with their vocalist Ben Sotto. It was a cover song called “When the Rain Begins to Fall” (originally Pia Zadora and Jermaine Jackson). When I heard what the song would be I was like yes I want to sing it! Our schedules fit together and the rest is history. Co-operation went really well. It was a nice experiment for me musically! I wish all the best for the band.

What do you think about music industry in Finland? How was working with your producer, Mikko?And how did you feel singing with him?

If thinking the Finnish music industry I think there’s a variation of potential music makers. It just needs more support from the Finnish government. It was really easy to work with Herranen. He has the right attitude on doing things. He‘s also a singer so it was very easy to communicate with him.

Have you already planned a tour for your album? Where are you most excited to go?

We focus on touring this fall. I personally would want to tour all around the world! Example Italy, Spain, Germany, Australia, USA…everywhere! We’ll start tour in our home country. We do not yet have any more plans. Currently we’re focus on getting things together.

Are there any places that you’ve never visited on a tour but you want to, one day? And what is the best place you remember you’ve been while touring?

There are a lot of places I haven’t been before! South America, Italy (expect Rock Im Ring festival), Spain, France… North American tour was awesome! It’s very hard to mention only one best place.

Last question, how’s your fan base in Finland? How and how often do you interact with them?

When we made this new album we didn’t know how our fans would remember us or if they remember us at all. It was great to notice that we still have the loyal fans out here and there. We’re very grateful about it. I just hope that people spread the word about us, because there are still a lot of those fans, who don’t know about the activation.

Thank you very much for your answers and your time! Good luck for everything, I hope to see you in Italy very soon!

Thank you! This was a pleasure. We would love to come to Italy! Rock on everybody and check out the latest Lullacry news on www.lullacry.com.

Links

MySpace * Facebook * Twitter * Site

Latest Multimedia

Crimfall – “The Writ of Sword” (2011)

Label : Spinefarm Records

Review by Tony Cannella

From Helsinki, Finland comes the Symphonic/Epic/Viking/ Folk Metal band Crimfall. In 2009, they released their full-length debut “As the Path Unfolds…”. Their new album is titled “The Writ of Sword”. Admittedly, I have never heard this band before, so I have nothing to compare “The Writ of Sword” to, but I have to say that after one listen (and subsequent listens), I like what I’ve heard. Crimfall are fronted by the dueling male/female vocals of Helena and Mikko. Helena’s powerhouse vocal style clashes with Mikko’s more aggressive approach. Sure, that’s nothing new, but who cares, when it’s done well it adds a lot to the songs, and the two vocalists at work in Crimfall, do their thing very well. After the obligatory intro “Dicembré”, Crimfall comes storming out of the gates with the powerful “Storm Before the Calm”. This is really a heavy track with a bit of a Thrash Metal vibe. The opening to the next track “Frost Upon Their Graves” slows the pace down with an acoustic intro, before the heavy guitars comes crashing in. This is a good mid-paced song and one of my favorites. Other highlights include: “The Writ of Sword”, the 8-minute “Silver and Bones” and “Son of North”. “The Writ of Sword” is a hard driving, relentless sophomore release that rarely falters. Fans of Battlelore, Turisas and Eluveitie would be well advised to check this band out.
 

Rating – 89/100

Tracklist

1. Dicembré
2. Storm Before the Calm
3. Frost Upon Their Graves
4. Cáhceravga
5. Shackles of the Moirai
6. The Writ of Sword
7. Geadgái
8. Silver and Bones
9. Son of North 

Line Up

• Helena Haaparanta – Vocals
• Mikko Häkkinen – Vocals
• Jakke Viitala – Guitars
• Miska Sipiläinen – Bass
• Janne Jukarainen – Drums 

Links

MySpace * ReverbNation * Facebook * Site