I just recently received and reviewed both of these brand new cd's from each of the bands I mentioned above. Amazing stuff would love to see both on ProgPower. Scar Symmetry and Stream of Passion would be the perfect odd ball bands.
Artist: Scar Symmetry
Title: Symmetric In Design
Release Date: 2005
Label: Nuclear Blast
What we have here is some great musicianship, some awesome death/extreme metal vocals, and some killer clean vocals. Ill admit it took me awhile to accept this style of clean vocal but it has grown on me and they make perfect sense. This is a melodic slab of Swedish death/power metal and it is going to appeal to fans of Dark Tranquility, In Flames, Soilwork, Children of Bodom, and Evergrey. They dont sound exactly like any of the above mentioned bands which is a good thing but share a lot of influences with the mentioned bands. Some of the music gets my feet tapping and my head banging with some machine gun riffs. A neo classical inspired guitar solo is showcased on "Dominion" which is rather cool and reminiscent of dare I say Yngwie? The album features a lot of good traditional heavy metal guitar solos.
I am digging this band big time and I can see them growing to become one of the big boys and in the near future maybe being mentioned in the same breath as fellow countrymen Soilwork, Dark Tranquility, In Flames, Evergrey, and Hypocrisy. I would have much rather seen Scar Symmetry on tour recently with Arch Enemy and before that God Forbid/Meshuggah rather then fellow Swedes Mnemic who have been getting a lot of attention here in the States. Scar Symmetry has a lot of potential and a solid debut album. Time will tell if this band will walk the road to the metal hall of fame.
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Artist: Stream of Passion
Title: Embrace the Storm
Release Date: 2005
Label: Insideout
For once we have a female fronted band in which upon first listen Nightwish, Lacuna Coil, or Evanescence DO NOT come to mind. So right off the bat you know this band is doing something right. Stream of Passion was formed by Arjen Anthony Lucassen who is well known for his latest endeavor, the Ayreon rock opera The Human Equation. With Stream of Passion he is able to showcase the amazing voice of Mexican singer Marcela Bovio. This is the first time in ten years that Arjen has formed a band.
The album does not have a set musical direction and for this reason I find this album very enjoyable. It offers up a little bit of everything blending mysterious gothic vocals, heavy metal guitars and atmospheric trip-hop, with haunting pianos and live cello and violin quartets. Most importantly each and every song is very well crafted. You know the music is doing its job when it paints an image in your head and puts you into a certain location. The music takes me away and sends me on a trip. Listening to this album I envision a humid and misty summer night with an amazing thunderstorm about to erupt and light up the skies. Any band that has the power to take me away and paint an image such as this is without a doubt doing a great job.
This album will not easily appeal to all fans of metal music. A very open mind is required as well as being in a relaxed state of mind. I find this band has something to offer and is a breath of fresh air in todays scene of female fronted bands. My suggestion is to put your storm windows in, sit back and embrace this stream of passion.
Artist: Scar Symmetry
Title: Symmetric In Design
Release Date: 2005
Label: Nuclear Blast
What we have here is some great musicianship, some awesome death/extreme metal vocals, and some killer clean vocals. Ill admit it took me awhile to accept this style of clean vocal but it has grown on me and they make perfect sense. This is a melodic slab of Swedish death/power metal and it is going to appeal to fans of Dark Tranquility, In Flames, Soilwork, Children of Bodom, and Evergrey. They dont sound exactly like any of the above mentioned bands which is a good thing but share a lot of influences with the mentioned bands. Some of the music gets my feet tapping and my head banging with some machine gun riffs. A neo classical inspired guitar solo is showcased on "Dominion" which is rather cool and reminiscent of dare I say Yngwie? The album features a lot of good traditional heavy metal guitar solos.
I am digging this band big time and I can see them growing to become one of the big boys and in the near future maybe being mentioned in the same breath as fellow countrymen Soilwork, Dark Tranquility, In Flames, Evergrey, and Hypocrisy. I would have much rather seen Scar Symmetry on tour recently with Arch Enemy and before that God Forbid/Meshuggah rather then fellow Swedes Mnemic who have been getting a lot of attention here in the States. Scar Symmetry has a lot of potential and a solid debut album. Time will tell if this band will walk the road to the metal hall of fame.
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Artist: Stream of Passion
Title: Embrace the Storm
Release Date: 2005
Label: Insideout
For once we have a female fronted band in which upon first listen Nightwish, Lacuna Coil, or Evanescence DO NOT come to mind. So right off the bat you know this band is doing something right. Stream of Passion was formed by Arjen Anthony Lucassen who is well known for his latest endeavor, the Ayreon rock opera The Human Equation. With Stream of Passion he is able to showcase the amazing voice of Mexican singer Marcela Bovio. This is the first time in ten years that Arjen has formed a band.
The album does not have a set musical direction and for this reason I find this album very enjoyable. It offers up a little bit of everything blending mysterious gothic vocals, heavy metal guitars and atmospheric trip-hop, with haunting pianos and live cello and violin quartets. Most importantly each and every song is very well crafted. You know the music is doing its job when it paints an image in your head and puts you into a certain location. The music takes me away and sends me on a trip. Listening to this album I envision a humid and misty summer night with an amazing thunderstorm about to erupt and light up the skies. Any band that has the power to take me away and paint an image such as this is without a doubt doing a great job.
This album will not easily appeal to all fans of metal music. A very open mind is required as well as being in a relaxed state of mind. I find this band has something to offer and is a breath of fresh air in todays scene of female fronted bands. My suggestion is to put your storm windows in, sit back and embrace this stream of passion.
