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Review:
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I was saying in my review of Wildpath that France is
leading the World in the production of metal bands, well,
guess where Bel O Kan come from? This symphonic metal septet
were founded back in 2001 and after various line-up changes,
trials and tribulations, they have now unleashed their debut
CD on Brennus, who are doing a fantastic job in promoting
French metal (e.g. Yotangor & Wildpath, etc.). Here you
get two alluring blondes for the price of one, lead singer
Sarah Liodenot with her pure folkish semi-operatic voice,
and Marion Gibello on backing vocals. They get their name
from the anthill (no, not the mob in Wacky Races) in Bernard
Werber’s Les Fourmis trilogy about a colony of ants, hence
the ant motif on the superb cover art (look closely, it
is very clever), and no, don’t panic, Adam and his dandy
highwaymen are nowhere to be seen. I love the way many French
bands of all types introduce a folk element into their music,
perhaps it is the strong Celtic link with Brittany, it certainly
gives them a unique and distinctive sound and style, that
lightness of touch that is so opposite of the Wagnerian
Germanic bands. After the suitable grand orchestral ‘ant’ro
‘Birth of a Queen’ there follows a series of up-tempo symphonic
semi-power-metalish ‘ant’hems, my favourites include the
f’ant’astic ‘Utopia’, which reminds me of early melodic
Epica, the fr’ant’ic rocker ‘Runaway’, and the jolly sea
sh’ant’y ‘Blowing the Wind’. Vocally, Sarah is at her best
when she uses vibrato and does not strain, and more backing
vocals would have helped her and the music. That aside,
and I do not want to make a mountain out of an anthill,
this is a mighty fine first effort, full of great songs
and musicianship, with an excellent contribution from Nico
Diplanche on keys. Fans of the lighter side of symphonic
power and rock metal should scuttle along to and gather
up a copy.
http://www.brennus-music.com/boutique/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=5248
8.5 out of 10. Phil
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