Ethera

Visions of Atlantis is widely known as a fairly stereotypical female fronted symphonic power metal act with tinges of the gothic sound. Having four full length albums under their belt, “Ethera” should not surprise any longtime fans of the band, as their somewhat generic formula of synth-laden metal is still very much the order of the day. “Ethera” sees the band sounding stronger and more determined than their previous outings while continuing towards a more radio-friendly sound.

Female fronted acts of this type tend to blend together unless there is some element to help them stand apart from the crowd. Maxi Nil is a strong, mid ranged female vocalist, who delivers a pop inspired performance, rather than the operatic style of others. The female vocals are enjoyable, but where the band really begins to stand apart is with the male vocals. Rather than the beauty and the beast or deeper gothy style used by most others, the male vocals here sound straight out of late eighties AOR: full of swank and tax write offs for job related hair care products. The more I listen to his vocals, the more I'm reminded of Bud Light's old salutes to “Real American Heroes”. So go ahead Mr. Swanky Cock Rocker, kick back and crack open a cold Bud Light. The short of it is that both vocalists are confident and emotive, despite some minor flaws in delivery. The biggest draw are the duet sections, as the two styles meld together with ease. The are sections where the male vocalist sounds strained and the lines sound forced, but the always confident delivery of Maxi pulls everything back together.

The band's 2011 EP, “Maria Magdalena”, saw a huge decline of the power metal elements in the band's sound and an increase in symphonic gothic elements, which the over the top orchestration still ruling every track. “Ethera” continues that trend but also makes strides in writing catchier and more emotionally charged songs in this style. There are still some of the same flaws here, including the occasional shouted vocal section, which sounds extremely out of place. The symphonic elements are still present, but not overarching every single second of the album and not completely overpowering every other instrument. While most of the album is covered by a typical, orchestra styled string sound, there are a few sections that sound like muted brass instruments which really drew my attention on each listen. “Machinage” and “Avatara” display some keyboard wankery and techno / electronic styled experimentation, which keep the delivery interesting, but are, frankly, a bit distracting at times, but not as distracting as the constant background noise of the band's earlier releases.

The guitars and rhythm section are a little more toned down here, as the focus is more on the vocals and keyboards than any where else. Everything is competently played, but simplistic. Chunky, chugging guitar lines, rollicking, rolling drum beats and thick bass lines are in abundance. Some sections build up speed where the drums go into double bass runs, but it's very infrequent. Actually, the infrequency make them seem that much faster and heavier. “Delta” still saw the band A few really enjoyable solos are here and there, but not on every song. It seems that, despite the music being fairly heavy, Visions of Atlantis may be going for a more commercially acceptable sound. This idea is supported by the existence of slower, melodic sections which contain acoustic guitar and piano lines. “Vicious Circle” and “Tilauc's Grace” both start off with the piano based instrumentation and builds into a mid paced hard rock chorus that would not sound out of place on an Evanescence album. Surprisingly, both songs boast some of the best guitar work on the album. “Bestiality Vs. Integrity” is another slow, almost pop rock song that seems to be reaching for a more widespread audience.

While I saw “Maria Magdalena” as a huge disappointment, Visions of Atlantis seem to have capitalized on their good qualities here while still reaching for a bigger audience. The orchestration is still there, but by utilizing different sounds, such as the pseudo-brass and techno inspired sections, there is an air of originality. The guitar, bass and drums are still simplistic, yet played with more passion and gusto. Both vocalists are growing and seem much more capable of delivering more emotional vocal lines instead of just going through the motions.

The upbeat, gothic inspired music may be further distancing itself from the realms of power metal, but I think the band is better for it. All of the members seem very comfortable with a more radio-friendly sound. Visions of Atlantis may not be the greatest female fronted Metal band out there, but they are really proving themselves to be more and more distinct. This won't be for everyone, for sure, but fans of Delain, Lacuna Coil and the like will not be disappointed here. It's good to see Visions of Atlantis moving in the right direction, especially after the big stumble with “Maria Magdalena”. Pick this up if you dig female fronted metal bands, because this is one of the better releases available.

Written for The Metal Observer:
http://www.metal-observer.com/