Band: Xandria
Album: Salomé – the Seventh Veil
Genre: gothic metal
Release date: May 25, 2007
Label: Drakkar records
Introduction
Even though the band is based in Germany, Xandria uses many oriental and mystical sounds in their music. Their Debut ‘Kill the sun’ already featured a track about Isis and Osiris. The oriental vibe is also very clearly audible in this album Salomé. The Seventh veil part of the title is based on the dance of the seven veils. Ishtar, a Persian goddess performed this dance to bring back her husband from the underworld. The dance of the seven veils is taken over, and many women danced the dance to seduce men. Whilst dancing the veils are taken off one by one. The man that is lucky enough to receive the last veil may spend the night with her. Xandria describes their album also as a dance of the seven veils. Per song people get a chance to catch a glimpse in the world of Xandria, and all 12 songs together give a good look at the musical abilities of Xandria.
Members
Lisa Middelhauve - vocals
Keyboard Marco Heubaum - guitar
Nils Middelhauve - bass
Gerit Lamm - drums
Philip Restemeier – guitar
Keyboard Marco Heubaum - guitar
Nils Middelhauve - bass
Gerit Lamm - drums
Philip Restemeier – guitar
Website
Review per song
01. Save my Life - 3.56
The opening track of the album immediately dives into a strong guitars and full bodied sounds. The short intro with the piano is almost immediately forgotten then. Lisa sings with a slow, cold and low voice. The chorus is quite catchy, after only listening a few times you can sing it. Besides the strong start the rest of the song seems to be not so confident.
The opening track of the album immediately dives into a strong guitars and full bodied sounds. The short intro with the piano is almost immediately forgotten then. Lisa sings with a slow, cold and low voice. The chorus is quite catchy, after only listening a few times you can sing it. Besides the strong start the rest of the song seems to be not so confident.
02. Vampire – 4.31
With a fast start, the low singing of Lisa and the guitar riffs guiding her voice, this track has a eerie start. Even though the atmosphere seems to change as the track progresses, the lyrics are still dark and not meant to be friendly. The music becomes more easy listening. During the choruses the hit potential is woven through just about every aspect of the track. The mystical sounding guitar solos in the middle make the entire track a bit more exotic.
With a fast start, the low singing of Lisa and the guitar riffs guiding her voice, this track has a eerie start. Even though the atmosphere seems to change as the track progresses, the lyrics are still dark and not meant to be friendly. The music becomes more easy listening. During the choruses the hit potential is woven through just about every aspect of the track. The mystical sounding guitar solos in the middle make the entire track a bit more exotic.
03. Beware – 3.21
Beware sounds quite like the other tracks I’ve heard before, only the different is the lyrics and the quite intermezzo’s where the heavy drums combines with Lisa’s voice are all you hear. Besides this I miss the some originality.
Beware sounds quite like the other tracks I’ve heard before, only the different is the lyrics and the quite intermezzo’s where the heavy drums combines with Lisa’s voice are all you hear. Besides this I miss the some originality.
04. Emotional man – 4.03
Every now and again a male in the back is singing along a sentence. In this track Lisa’s voice is obviously multiplied on tape. The track is a bit faster then the ones before, with makes it quite danceable. The start of every chorus is a slower and more ritual sounding intermezzo. This tracks more then the tracks before, which make it a bit more suited to the promotional piece of text I received with the CD.
Every now and again a male in the back is singing along a sentence. In this track Lisa’s voice is obviously multiplied on tape. The track is a bit faster then the ones before, with makes it quite danceable. The start of every chorus is a slower and more ritual sounding intermezzo. This tracks more then the tracks before, which make it a bit more suited to the promotional piece of text I received with the CD.
05. Salomé – 6.11
At the beginning of the track this seems to be a ballad, with only a light guitar sound and the singing. After a while these slow intermezzo keep coming back, and only the chorus is hyped up with some extra guitar and a strong dramatic drums. The solo in the middle is quite nice. It also has a mystical feature to it.
At the beginning of the track this seems to be a ballad, with only a light guitar sound and the singing. After a while these slow intermezzo keep coming back, and only the chorus is hyped up with some extra guitar and a strong dramatic drums. The solo in the middle is quite nice. It also has a mystical feature to it.
06. Only for the stars in your eyes – 3.17
With again a low and slow singing and the quite standard music in the back, this track suits the rest of the album very well. Vocalist Mika Tauriainen from Entwine supports Lisa on this track.
With again a low and slow singing and the quite standard music in the back, this track suits the rest of the album very well. Vocalist Mika Tauriainen from Entwine supports Lisa on this track.
07. Firestorm – 4.50
This track starts stronger with a tough rum beat which reminds me of Nightwish. On this song Lisa uses different aspects of her voice, from very high, down to the lower octaves. With its very catchy sound and easy sing-a-long chorus, this track has a high hit potential in the same trend as After Forever. With a backing choir this track is given an extra spark.
This track starts stronger with a tough rum beat which reminds me of Nightwish. On this song Lisa uses different aspects of her voice, from very high, down to the lower octaves. With its very catchy sound and easy sing-a-long chorus, this track has a high hit potential in the same trend as After Forever. With a backing choir this track is given an extra spark.
08. A new age – 3.37
With a strong beat guiding the entire track this sounds very danceable and seems a be written on a brighter note then most of the tracks.
With a strong beat guiding the entire track this sounds very danceable and seems a be written on a brighter note then most of the tracks.
09. The wind and the ocean – 3.24
Starting with a sample of the wind. This is the ballad of the CD, main instrument being the Piano. Which is played, if I’m correct, by Lisa herself. The atmosphere of the song fees quite alright, it tries to sound eerie, but seems to be more soothing and comforting.
Starting with a sample of the wind. This is the ballad of the CD, main instrument being the Piano. Which is played, if I’m correct, by Lisa herself. The atmosphere of the song fees quite alright, it tries to sound eerie, but seems to be more soothing and comforting.
10. Sisters of the light – 3.37
This sounds like and almost oriental/Bollywood pop song because of the easy to sing along chorus and the oriental sounds, remember the hits of Tarkan, the Turkish singer? He uses the same instruments and beats. It’s a really poppy track that seems to be a bit out of place here. It’s nice to hear though; you will like it especially when you’re into the Arabian pop music.
This sounds like and almost oriental/Bollywood pop song because of the easy to sing along chorus and the oriental sounds, remember the hits of Tarkan, the Turkish singer? He uses the same instruments and beats. It’s a really poppy track that seems to be a bit out of place here. It’s nice to hear though; you will like it especially when you’re into the Arabian pop music.
11. Sleeping dogs lie – 4.11
After the poppy sounds this tracks is harsher and faster, there is more energy stuffed into this track, with fast and rhythmic drums this track is slightly forming itself to be a bit different then the rest of the album.
After the poppy sounds this tracks is harsher and faster, there is more energy stuffed into this track, with fast and rhythmic drums this track is slightly forming itself to be a bit different then the rest of the album.
12. On my way – 3.51
The same with ‘On my way’. Also this one track is a bit faster. Not much original though, bt the guitar solo’s and the dance beats are made up nicely.
The same with ‘On my way’. Also this one track is a bit faster. Not much original though, bt the guitar solo’s and the dance beats are made up nicely.
Cover picture
Technical
Tracks: 12
Total playing time: 48.55
Extra: -
Tracks: 12
Total playing time: 48.55
Extra: -
Conclusion
This album is not a real standout amongst its sisters in the Goth metal scene. The mystical touch the album is of course quite nice and all, but I must say, so many bands tell they have a special feature, and it turns out to be related to the same thing all bands do: make some mice music, using a stated programme. Some easy singing along tracks, not to experimental, and of course a few strong men on stage and a pretty female singer. This said, to me, Firestorm has a real hit potential because of the success formula created in this genre. ‘Sisters of the light’ stands out on this CD because of the Arabian poppy sound. This is also my favourite track of the album.
This album is not a real standout amongst its sisters in the Goth metal scene. The mystical touch the album is of course quite nice and all, but I must say, so many bands tell they have a special feature, and it turns out to be related to the same thing all bands do: make some mice music, using a stated programme. Some easy singing along tracks, not to experimental, and of course a few strong men on stage and a pretty female singer. This said, to me, Firestorm has a real hit potential because of the success formula created in this genre. ‘Sisters of the light’ stands out on this CD because of the Arabian poppy sound. This is also my favourite track of the album.
Rating
Music: 6.5
Sounds: 7
Extra: -
Total: 6.8
Music: 6.5
Sounds: 7
Extra: -
Total: 6.8
{jos_sb_discuss:19}
Comments powered by CComment