Band name: Echoes of Eternity
Title: The Forgotten Goddess
Genre: Melodic Metal
Release date: 2007-02-02 (Europe) 2007-02-20 (USA)
Record Company/Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Introduction
The Forgotten Goddess is the debut album of the Los Angeles based Echoes Of Eternity formed in 2005 with the intention of combining aggressive metal with a beautiful female voice. Guitarist Brandon Patton, with death metal influence, co-founded Echoes Of Eternity with drummer Kirk Carrison. Bassist Duane Cowan was added to complete the rythm section. This laid a solid metal foundation for the gorgeous vocals of frontwoman Francine Boucher. Her voice combined with aggressive metal riffs, double bass drumming and old-school guitar solos create something entirely unique in the metal scene today. The cover art of this album reflects exactly what you can expect from this album: strong contrasts between the smooth vocals (represented by the elegant Renaissance like statue) and aggressive riffs (represented by the splash of blood). The music is different from most actual gothic metal female fronted bands in the sense that there is no keyboards, no opera singing and no growling, just traditional metal instruments, with soft vocals, therefore I would be tempted to call the style "renaissance metal". The booklet that comes with the album has been well designed with nice gothic art drawings that match the music and lyrics relatively well. The Forgotten Goddess as a whole, music - lyrics - graphic art, is an epic and mystic journey in the human soul tortured between life and death.
Line-up
Brandon Patton - Guitars
Kirk Carrison - Drums
Francine Boucher - Vocals
Duane Cowan - Bass
Kirk Carrison - Drums
Francine Boucher - Vocals
Duane Cowan - Bass
Website
Song Review
01. Burning With Life - 1:33
The first song is an intro setting the scene for the atmosphere of the album. The guitar riffs start slowly and accelerate, soon followed by etheral vocals of Francine Boucher in the background. Nice melodic progressive variations lead to the next song.
The first song is an intro setting the scene for the atmosphere of the album. The guitar riffs start slowly and accelerate, soon followed by etheral vocals of Francine Boucher in the background. Nice melodic progressive variations lead to the next song.
02. Expressions Of Flesh - 4:12
The rapid aggressive electric guitar riffs and drums give the immediate feeling of a heavy metal song, which is constrasted by the soft voice of Francine. The song is like a continuous duel between the darkness of the music and the clearness of the voice, with progressive variations, sometimes the voice having the advantage, sometimes the guitars and drums coming back more aggressively. At the end, both seem to vanish in concordance. This atmosphere is also reflected by the graphic representing the lifeless body of a naked woman surrounded by a kind of turbulent smoke. The lyrics are obvious and express the contrast between the nature of the flesh condamned to die and the eternity of the soul.
The rapid aggressive electric guitar riffs and drums give the immediate feeling of a heavy metal song, which is constrasted by the soft voice of Francine. The song is like a continuous duel between the darkness of the music and the clearness of the voice, with progressive variations, sometimes the voice having the advantage, sometimes the guitars and drums coming back more aggressively. At the end, both seem to vanish in concordance. This atmosphere is also reflected by the graphic representing the lifeless body of a naked woman surrounded by a kind of turbulent smoke. The lyrics are obvious and express the contrast between the nature of the flesh condamned to die and the eternity of the soul.
03. Garden Of The Gods - 4:51
The third song starts with progressive metal riffs which soon vanish into something more acoustic with a predominance of the smooth and clear voice telling the mystic story of the Garden of the Gods. This track sounds definitely more progressive, with some nice solo guitar melodies. The variations in the melodies give an impression of turbulence as also reflected in the graphics.
The third song starts with progressive metal riffs which soon vanish into something more acoustic with a predominance of the smooth and clear voice telling the mystic story of the Garden of the Gods. This track sounds definitely more progressive, with some nice solo guitar melodies. The variations in the melodies give an impression of turbulence as also reflected in the graphics.
04. Towers Of Silence - 4:21
This song starts with sorrowful heavy metal riffs on top of which the voice is added discretely like a background instrument. The guitars are definitely predominant here with variations in tempo. When the rythm appears to slow down, it is actually to introduce an acceleration and become more heavy. One minute before the end, there is a small pause but it is not the end. The guitar riffs come back to fill the last minute. The lyrics are getting more mystical and mysterious, still speaking about life and death.
05. Voices In A Dream - 4:47
Voices In A Dream is the song that has been chosen by the band to make a video clip. It alternates rapid catchy melodies with slower melancholic tunes and heavy metal with acoustic guitar riffs. The lyrics are also about death and eternity.
06. The Forgotten Goddess - 4:47
The title track starts with aggressive catchy riffs leading to a verse sung in French, reminding the Quebec origin of Francine Leboucher. This song is actually my favourite, it provides the tune that reminds in your head after several spins of the album. The catchy riffs remain omnipresent and create this turbulent spiral effect. The Forgotten Goddess is about the Sacred Feminine as known also from the Da Vinci Code.
The title track starts with aggressive catchy riffs leading to a verse sung in French, reminding the Quebec origin of Francine Leboucher. This song is actually my favourite, it provides the tune that reminds in your head after several spins of the album. The catchy riffs remain omnipresent and create this turbulent spiral effect. The Forgotten Goddess is about the Sacred Feminine as known also from the Da Vinci Code.
07. The Kingdom Within - 6:16
This song is the longest song of the album. It starts slowly as an acoustic tune introducing a cello and a violin, expressing the warmth, light and comfort of the "Kingdom Within" which is soon constrasted by the aggressive guitar riffs expressing cold and darkness. At the end, the comfort of the Kingdom Within is triomphing.
This song is the longest song of the album. It starts slowly as an acoustic tune introducing a cello and a violin, expressing the warmth, light and comfort of the "Kingdom Within" which is soon constrasted by the aggressive guitar riffs expressing cold and darkness. At the end, the comfort of the Kingdom Within is triomphing.
08. Lost Beneath A Silent Sky - 4:27
Lost Beneath A Silent Sky contains the less variations. It is composed by a continuous stream of aggressive guitars and drums, contrasted as usual by the smooth voice of Francine. The theme of the lyrics is philosophical, raising the questions that one asks oneself about life.
Lost Beneath A Silent Sky contains the less variations. It is composed by a continuous stream of aggressive guitars and drums, contrasted as usual by the smooth voice of Francine. The theme of the lyrics is philosophical, raising the questions that one asks oneself about life.
09. Circles In Stone - 4:55
The last song before the conclusion alternates acoustic guitar tunes with heavier electrical guitar, interlinked by the vocals, with a tune of more intense drums. The circles in stone is about the likes of Stonehedge, Temple of the Sun.
10. Adrift - 2:13
Adrift is a closing tune, with violin, cello and the voice of the siren. The aggressive riffs have disappeared, as if after the mystic journey the soul was in peace.
Adrift is a closing tune, with violin, cello and the voice of the siren. The aggressive riffs have disappeared, as if after the mystic journey the soul was in peace.
Technical information
Total playing time: 42:27 min
Total numbers: 10
Total numbers: 10
Cover
Conclusion
This first album of Echoes of Eternity is amazing and innovative, truly "progressive". The contrast of smooth vocals over heavy riffs, keeping the voice smooth instead of operatic or growling, using it as an instrument instead of keyboards creates a special atmosphere which I like to call "Renaissance Metal" and which is actually close to progressive metal or melodic metal. The style reminds me the most of the also young french band Anachronia. Although some critics have been very negative, like those that you always find when you do something new, The Forgotten Goddess has the potential to be a success and it will be interesting to see how the band will perform live and evolve in the future.
Rating
Music: 8
Sound: 8
Extra's: 9
Total: 8,3
{jos_sb_discuss:19}
Sound: 8
Extra's: 9
Total: 8,3
{jos_sb_discuss:19}
Comments powered by CComment