Title: Gods of Vermin
Artist: Sons of Seasons
Genre: Metal
Release Date: 30th April 2009
Label: Napalm Records
Introduction
Sons of Seasons is a German band formed by Oliver Palotai. He is wellknown as the keyboardplayer of Kamelot and Doro. He has some 'hidden' talents as singer, songwriter and an excellent guitarplayer. So when I was asked to listen to this album Gods of Vermin, I was very curious to hear what the band has achieved and what kind of metal this would be. It’s a debutalbum with five bandmembers from other metalbands (Metalium, Silent Force, Ancient Curse) two quest members of Epica and Tijs Vanesste (Oceans of Seasons). With those influenses, I have high expections of these ‘Gods of Vermin’.
Album Review
'The place where I hide' the opener of this debut with a tranquil, almost philosophical piece of music. Only keyboards, little guitar mixed very peculiar sounds from the keyboard. Somehow the song feels like entering a secluded area as a prelude for what’s coming, like a purification ritual before you come face to face with the true Gods of Vermin. The title track 'Gods of Vermin' is my favourite. The strong and transparant voice of Henning Basse gets straight into my heart. The song is actually a story about a guy who’s state is gradually declining and it’s an expression of a wish to disappear completely, which he won’t be able to achieve. Henning alternates his voice from a real metalsound to a very clear high voice. The quitars are heavy and support the general idea of decay, but the mediaval sounds in the background, it makes it very interesting to listen to.
'A blind man’s resolution' is a robust track about an independent, free spirit and starts with heavy riffs of guitars and has a tranquil interlude and it turns into a melodic song. The changes in the music - from uptempo to slow and back again – are fascinating. If you listen to 'Fallen Family' you will immediately recognise the nice voice of Simone Simmons, singer from Epica. The uptempo guitars and doublebasse drums give the track a really dark flavour, enhanced by the voices shifting to heavy grunts, garnished with the freezing and gruesome screams of Mark Jansen (also from Epica). The track is a intense explosion of emotions.
'The Piper' this ballad opens with a quitar, keys and some drums. What is remarkable about The Piper is very symphonic and melodic with mediaval sounds played on guitars. Compared with the other tracks the band used a completely differend approach, which turns this song into a complementary variation on their debut. 'Wheel of Guilt' is a bit different. Although, this spheric celestial song feels like a ballad, it is not. The track opens quietly with several voices and gradually quitars become dominant. Surprisingly the singer alternates between a clear voice, screams and whispers. 'Bellial’s Tower' is a fast song starts with a keyboard. It’s the fastest track on the album with heavy guitars and drums stitched with Asian sounds.
‘Fall of Byzanz’ with the high voices and eccentric quitars is less progressive than the other tracks on the CD and is quite similar to ‘After Forever’. In spite of this, Sons of Seasons knows how to give an intriguing sound to this song. The track 'Wintersmith' opens with a piano after which the singer Simone draws you into the song. The voices of Henning and Simone are complementary to each other which creates a wonderfull picturesque feeling. Although wintersmith is a ballad, it’s a delightful exeption to the other tracks. Than there is 'Dead man’s shadow' what has a creepy sound, build up with uptempo guitars, heavy drums and bass, although chorus is quite catchy. It has real hitpotential for the progressive charts. When you think this can not get better, you’ll be fooled. Sanatorium Song is one of the best tracks on the album with some folk veil sprinkled over it. It is a real classic.
'Third moon rising': the last song of the album starts slowly with a guitar and some keyboardsounds. After a while, it shifts to a much heavier vibe by adding more guitars. I am realy impressed by the voice of Henning, because of his unusual metalsound. He is able to reach high notes, second voice and always stays very pure. That’s a big accomplishment for a male singer. My conclusion of this “killer” album: this debut is of a exceptionally quality, not only by the structurewise, but also by the lyrics, the music and especially by the innovative use of the voices. Once heard, it will never leave your CD-player. Each and everytime you hear new approaches to the music. The production is superb. So when you love progressive metal, gothic metal and a bit of rock you ought to have this album in your CD-collection. I know live Sons of Seasons will be even better than on the album. It’s a real addition to the Gothic-metal scene.
Tracklist
'A blind man’s resolution' is a robust track about an independent, free spirit and starts with heavy riffs of guitars and has a tranquil interlude and it turns into a melodic song. The changes in the music - from uptempo to slow and back again – are fascinating. If you listen to 'Fallen Family' you will immediately recognise the nice voice of Simone Simmons, singer from Epica. The uptempo guitars and doublebasse drums give the track a really dark flavour, enhanced by the voices shifting to heavy grunts, garnished with the freezing and gruesome screams of Mark Jansen (also from Epica). The track is a intense explosion of emotions.
'The Piper' this ballad opens with a quitar, keys and some drums. What is remarkable about The Piper is very symphonic and melodic with mediaval sounds played on guitars. Compared with the other tracks the band used a completely differend approach, which turns this song into a complementary variation on their debut. 'Wheel of Guilt' is a bit different. Although, this spheric celestial song feels like a ballad, it is not. The track opens quietly with several voices and gradually quitars become dominant. Surprisingly the singer alternates between a clear voice, screams and whispers. 'Bellial’s Tower' is a fast song starts with a keyboard. It’s the fastest track on the album with heavy guitars and drums stitched with Asian sounds.
‘Fall of Byzanz’ with the high voices and eccentric quitars is less progressive than the other tracks on the CD and is quite similar to ‘After Forever’. In spite of this, Sons of Seasons knows how to give an intriguing sound to this song. The track 'Wintersmith' opens with a piano after which the singer Simone draws you into the song. The voices of Henning and Simone are complementary to each other which creates a wonderfull picturesque feeling. Although wintersmith is a ballad, it’s a delightful exeption to the other tracks. Than there is 'Dead man’s shadow' what has a creepy sound, build up with uptempo guitars, heavy drums and bass, although chorus is quite catchy. It has real hitpotential for the progressive charts. When you think this can not get better, you’ll be fooled. Sanatorium Song is one of the best tracks on the album with some folk veil sprinkled over it. It is a real classic.
'Third moon rising': the last song of the album starts slowly with a guitar and some keyboardsounds. After a while, it shifts to a much heavier vibe by adding more guitars. I am realy impressed by the voice of Henning, because of his unusual metalsound. He is able to reach high notes, second voice and always stays very pure. That’s a big accomplishment for a male singer. My conclusion of this “killer” album: this debut is of a exceptionally quality, not only by the structurewise, but also by the lyrics, the music and especially by the innovative use of the voices. Once heard, it will never leave your CD-player. Each and everytime you hear new approaches to the music. The production is superb. So when you love progressive metal, gothic metal and a bit of rock you ought to have this album in your CD-collection. I know live Sons of Seasons will be even better than on the album. It’s a real addition to the Gothic-metal scene.
Tracklist
01. The place where I hide
02. Gods of Vermin
03. A blind man’s resolution
04. Fallen family
05. The Piper
06. Wheel of quilt
07. Belials tower
08. Fall of Byzans
09. Wintersmith
10. Death man’s shadows
11. Sanatorium song
12. Third moon rising
13. Melanchorium (bonustrack)
02. Gods of Vermin
03. A blind man’s resolution
04. Fallen family
05. The Piper
06. Wheel of quilt
07. Belials tower
08. Fall of Byzans
09. Wintersmith
10. Death man’s shadows
11. Sanatorium song
12. Third moon rising
13. Melanchorium (bonustrack)
- CD Regular Edition 2009
- CD Digipack 2009 with a bonustrack
Line Up
Henning Basse - Vocals
Olivar Palotai - Guitar, Keyboards
Jürgen Steinmetz - Bass
Daniel Schild - Drums
Pepe Pierez - Guitar
Olivar Palotai - Guitar, Keyboards
Jürgen Steinmetz - Bass
Daniel Schild - Drums
Pepe Pierez - Guitar
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 9
Sound: 9
Extra’s: -
Total: 9
Sound: 9
Extra’s: -
Total: 9
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