Quite an interesting collection this week; an encouraging start to 2008. Something quite nice happened this week. I discovered an excellent band I confess I have never heard about before. I have always felt this is one of the "perks" of doing this gig. It doesn't happen that often, but it's great when it does.

CD Reviews

Blackfield: II

Steve Wilson from Porcupine Tree's sideline returns, after their stunning debut, with an album that comes close to equaling its predecessor. It is a touch darker but in no way does it waver from the formula that worked so brilliantly the first time round. As with many great albums there is no real highlight but more of a case of it being great in toto. From the soaring nature of "Once" right until the end, this is a complete pleasure.

If you liked the first one anywhere near as much as I did then you should have this. Words are tough to find for this sort of quality.

Eyes of Eden: Faith

Much touted by many as a symphonic metal band of merit in certain circles I was curious to find out what all the fuss was about. Not varying from the formula too much this is quite a pleasurable album except for one minor thing. The lead vocals, on occasion, most notably on the last track, the wonderfully epic "Not Human Kind", started sounding like Madonna.

My first review thought for this album was: imagine if Madonna fronted a power metal band instead of doing pop fluff. It's oddly endearing and is an interesting break from the operatic based female vocalists that are so prevalent.

Delain: Lucidity

I have been hearing quite good things about this lot of female-led symphonic metallists. And I was not disappointed in the slightest. This is wonderfully competent metal with oodles of quality and class. I could listen to it all day. It never gets old. Lots of keyboards and strings twinned with some heavy power metal stylings; with delicate female vocals over the top. Soaring epics like "Shattered" are a pleasure to listen to.

Just when you thought the genre might have run out of ideas and quality, something like this comes along. If you like this sort of music and want more; then check out Delain you won't be sorry.

Indigo Dying: s/t

Take the sensibility of the modern female-vocals led metal scene and combine it with the attitude and fun of the female heavy rock of the 80s to get something close to ID. There is none of the cheesiness that occasionally creeped in back then. However there are hints of Saraya, Heart, and even Baby Animals. Gisa Vatsky who has worked with a whole myriad of pop and heavy rock heavyweights. Clearly she can lend her voice to whatever she damn well pleases and pull it off. Whether passionate hard rock/AOR with an occasional drift into country ("Taken" could be a huge country hit) or full force metal this woman has the pipes to deliver. Mike Kiske and Mark Boals show up to lend some heavy rock male vocals on three duet tracks.