Searing Meadow Corroding From Inside
Crash Music 61138 March 8th, 2005
By Jason Jordan
It says here, on the handy promo sheet, that Searing Meadow have picked up where Amorphis left off at Tales From the Thousand Lakes. I agree wholeheartedly after giving Corroding From Inside a thorough listen. Usually, I debase doppelgangers because I feel that they dont offer enough redeeming values to thwart the ones theyre copycatting. However, once in a great while, an identical twin emerges that crafts something both irrevocably presentable and endearing. Searing Meadow do indeed fit that bill.
This band differs from Amorphis insomuch that the formers melodious nature is at the forefront. A clean guitar sound plays a significant role on Corroding From Inside, as does the muddiness of the distortion-laden, background passages. I wish Ikonens (vocals, guitars, keyboards) vox were more upfront, though his versatility is nice. Songs such as All Obvious and These Evening Tears both feature incredible breakdowns. Concerning the breakdown of the latter: is it a throwback to Megadeths Peace Sells ? Ill let you decide on that one. Synthesizers play a pivotal role like Three Names for Denial and Fading to Silhouette (Part II) show us. Its unfortunate that the presentation wasnt brought up to scale with the music, because this Finnish quartet has more to offer than their packaging lets on.
[Insert connecting phrase here], I like these guys in spite of their penchant for laminating the Amorphis sound, and running with it. Corroding From Inside is basically melancholia splayed out in musical form, and its easy to identify with many of the themes present in the lyrics. Without a doubt, Searing Meadow are for those of you that get misty when you hear mid-90s, Finnish death.
8/10
Official Searing Meadow website
Official Crash Music website
Crash Music 61138 March 8th, 2005
By Jason Jordan
It says here, on the handy promo sheet, that Searing Meadow have picked up where Amorphis left off at Tales From the Thousand Lakes. I agree wholeheartedly after giving Corroding From Inside a thorough listen. Usually, I debase doppelgangers because I feel that they dont offer enough redeeming values to thwart the ones theyre copycatting. However, once in a great while, an identical twin emerges that crafts something both irrevocably presentable and endearing. Searing Meadow do indeed fit that bill.
This band differs from Amorphis insomuch that the formers melodious nature is at the forefront. A clean guitar sound plays a significant role on Corroding From Inside, as does the muddiness of the distortion-laden, background passages. I wish Ikonens (vocals, guitars, keyboards) vox were more upfront, though his versatility is nice. Songs such as All Obvious and These Evening Tears both feature incredible breakdowns. Concerning the breakdown of the latter: is it a throwback to Megadeths Peace Sells ? Ill let you decide on that one. Synthesizers play a pivotal role like Three Names for Denial and Fading to Silhouette (Part II) show us. Its unfortunate that the presentation wasnt brought up to scale with the music, because this Finnish quartet has more to offer than their packaging lets on.
[Insert connecting phrase here], I like these guys in spite of their penchant for laminating the Amorphis sound, and running with it. Corroding From Inside is basically melancholia splayed out in musical form, and its easy to identify with many of the themes present in the lyrics. Without a doubt, Searing Meadow are for those of you that get misty when you hear mid-90s, Finnish death.
8/10
Official Searing Meadow website
Official Crash Music website
