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│ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │
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│ P R E S E N T S │
│ │
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│ + Visions Of Atlantis - Ethera + │
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│ │
│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Information ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Release Date.May-01-2013 Encoder......L3.97 -V2 --vbr-new ║ │
│║ Genre........Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │
│║ Year.........2013 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ripper.......anthem Songs........12 ║ │
│║ Covers.......Yes Url... Myspace ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Notes ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Artist : Visions Of Atlantis Rating : You Decide! ║ │
│║ Album : Ethera Label : Napalm ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Description : ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ http://www.myspace.com/visionsofatlantisofficial ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ 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, ║ │
│║ ôEtheraö 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. ôEtheraö 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 ║ │
│║ ôReal American Heroesö. 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, ôMaria Magdalenaö, 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. ôEtheraö 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. ôMachinageö and ║ │
│║ ôAvataraö 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. ôDeltaö 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. ôVicious Circleö and ║ │
│║ ôTilauc's Graceö 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. ôBestiality Vs. Integrityö is another ║ │
│║ slow, almost pop rock song that seems to be ║ │
│║ reaching for a more widespread audience. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ While I saw ôMaria Magdalenaö 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 ôMaria ║ │
│║ Magdalenaö. Pick this up if you dig female ║ │
│║ fronted metal bands, because this is one of the ║ │
│║ better releases available. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Maxi Nil - Vocals ║ │
│║ Mario Plank - Vocals ║ │
│║ Thomas Caser - Drums ║ │
│║ Martin Harb - Keyboards ║ │
│║ Cris Tian - Guitars ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Tracklist ║ │
│╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │
│ │
│ 01 - The Ark [04:30] │
│ 02 - Machinage [03:33] │
│ 03 - Avatara [04:50] │
│ 04 - Vicious Circle [04:28] │
│ 05 - Hypnotized [04:20] │
│ 06 - Tlaloc┤s Grace [04:05] │
│ 07 - Burden Of Divinity [03:39] │
│ 08 - Cave Behind The Waterfall [03:52] │
│ 09 - A.E.O.N. 19th [04:10] │
│ 10 - Bestiality vs. Integrity [04:36] │
│ 11 - Cleric┤s Emotion [05:14] │
│ 12 - Tlaloc┤s Grace (Orchestral Version) (Bonus [04:11] │
│ │
│ Total Length : [51:28 minn │
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│ ╔═════════════════════╗ │
│ ║ Greetings To: ║ │
│ ╚═════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ Too all people who contributes to make this │
│ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│■ ■│
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