Female Voices Of Metal Festival 2005 Kingston, The Peel - 09/10/2005
Bands: Seasons End/Mercury Rain/Crimson Altar/Liquid Sky/Crimson Tears
By Laura Nixon
Arriving at tonights intimate venue, known as The Peel, UM is eager to hear the five bands dubbed the best of female fronted metal. The line-up is an impressive selection of what the UK has to offer in the way of female voices of metal, and does not really disappoint.
Liquid Sky
First up is Crimson Tears, a five-piece symphonic goth metal band with a feisty, flogger wielding singer. Nightwish definitely springs to mind as soon as you see and hear the performance, but there is definitely a lack of confidence towards the beginning of their set. The songs are heavy, musically sound, and played with a passionate eagerness, suggesting the band has a promising future, if they can get a bit more live experience.
Liquid Sky, a six piece melodic metal collective hailing from Manchester, are up next, and leave this reviewer speechless. Having seen them perform previously, its surprising how much the band has evolved. With Paul White of Seasons End standing in on drums, well-coordinated guitar and keyboard solos, and a singer who can make you weak at the knees with both looks and vocals, the crowd are engrossed in minutes. They both look and sound great on stage, and will go far.
Liquid Sky
Unfortunately, the next group, Crimson Altar, do not impress. The guitar riffs are heavy, almost death metal at points, but are too slow and repetitive. The vocalist has an edge of Alanis Morissette, but lacks the passion required for a metal band. Overall the stage presence is lacking, and disappoints, as the response from the crowd shows.
Gothic power metal band Mercury Rain take centre stage next, and improve the mood of the audience. The music is very heavy but the vocals seem to be stylistically misplaced. However, there is a brutal force behind the songs and some well positioned guitar solos help to keep everyone interested through to the end of the set.
Seasons End
Finally, the most talked about band, Seasons End, get their turn to try and impress. The opening chords make UM stand up and listen but quickly become dissatisfied when the female vocalist starts singing. She is technically outstanding, but lacks the power and enthusiasm required. She tries hard - and the crowd clearly likes the show - but it feels like theres something missing. The stage theatrics look too well rehearsed, and the keys are lost in the depth of the excellent drumming and thrashing guitars. The melodic male vocals make up for some of what is lacking, and UM leave after a thoroughly enjoyable metal evening.
Seasons End
Liquid Sky live pictures copyright Ruth Woodrow 2005
Seasons End pictures copyright Maksim Kakitsev 2005
Bands: Seasons End/Mercury Rain/Crimson Altar/Liquid Sky/Crimson Tears
By Laura Nixon
Arriving at tonights intimate venue, known as The Peel, UM is eager to hear the five bands dubbed the best of female fronted metal. The line-up is an impressive selection of what the UK has to offer in the way of female voices of metal, and does not really disappoint.
Liquid Sky
First up is Crimson Tears, a five-piece symphonic goth metal band with a feisty, flogger wielding singer. Nightwish definitely springs to mind as soon as you see and hear the performance, but there is definitely a lack of confidence towards the beginning of their set. The songs are heavy, musically sound, and played with a passionate eagerness, suggesting the band has a promising future, if they can get a bit more live experience.
Liquid Sky, a six piece melodic metal collective hailing from Manchester, are up next, and leave this reviewer speechless. Having seen them perform previously, its surprising how much the band has evolved. With Paul White of Seasons End standing in on drums, well-coordinated guitar and keyboard solos, and a singer who can make you weak at the knees with both looks and vocals, the crowd are engrossed in minutes. They both look and sound great on stage, and will go far.
Liquid Sky
Unfortunately, the next group, Crimson Altar, do not impress. The guitar riffs are heavy, almost death metal at points, but are too slow and repetitive. The vocalist has an edge of Alanis Morissette, but lacks the passion required for a metal band. Overall the stage presence is lacking, and disappoints, as the response from the crowd shows.
Gothic power metal band Mercury Rain take centre stage next, and improve the mood of the audience. The music is very heavy but the vocals seem to be stylistically misplaced. However, there is a brutal force behind the songs and some well positioned guitar solos help to keep everyone interested through to the end of the set.
Seasons End
Finally, the most talked about band, Seasons End, get their turn to try and impress. The opening chords make UM stand up and listen but quickly become dissatisfied when the female vocalist starts singing. She is technically outstanding, but lacks the power and enthusiasm required. She tries hard - and the crowd clearly likes the show - but it feels like theres something missing. The stage theatrics look too well rehearsed, and the keys are lost in the depth of the excellent drumming and thrashing guitars. The melodic male vocals make up for some of what is lacking, and UM leave after a thoroughly enjoyable metal evening.
Seasons End
Liquid Sky live pictures copyright Ruth Woodrow 2005
Seasons End pictures copyright Maksim Kakitsev 2005
