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This is the debut album by the Czech quintet founded
by singer Katerina and bass player Jaroush. They started
by doing more acoustic music but soon developed into a gothic
symphonic metal band. The cover artwork will remind Doctor
Who fans of Cassandra, the woman who has lived hundreds
of years but is now just a face. Front lady, the vivacious
Katerina, not only has a lovely pop voice, but she can also
do soaring semi-operatics as well. ****
The album starts with a quartet of catchy, highly melodic,
up-tempo numbers, a cross between Within Temptation’s gothic
metal and Andrew Lloyd Webber, with Rick Wakeman on keys.
The orchestrated ‘H.O.P.E’ is outstanding, and ‘Free Me’
has a delightful piano intro. For the next four songs (with
a brief orchestral interlude) they shift up a gear into
more Nightwish power metal territory. ‘Voyage’ has superb
synth work, and the operatic ‘Fragrance of Memories’ is
very impressive. They return to a more Within Temptation
vibe on ‘Life for Sale’ with excellent use of synths and
electronica, then ‘Queen of My Own’ with its choral intro.
The album ends with the suitably grand orchestral ballad
‘Remember’. ****
None of the songs hang about, they do their job, and
then it’s onto the next, so the album really motors along.
Available on their online shop at
http://www.innocens.net/
or My Space http://www.myspace.com/innocens
I have no hesitation in recommending this
to all symphonic gothic metal fans, indeed anyone who like
great melodic rock music.
9 out of 10.
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