Title: My Own Army
Artist: Exilia
Genre: Alternative
Release Date: 30th January 2009
Label: AFM Records
Album Review
Because it’s hard in Italy to get known if you play music like EXILIA do, they decided to try it in Germany to also arouse some attention in their home country. But it all started out in 1998, when singer Masha met guitarist Elio Alien in a record store. Nowadays, they don’t have to worry about a lack of attention. A hefty tour schedule with up to 150 shows a year and several successful albums speak volumes. ‘My Own Army’ is the most recent descendant from the Italian four-piece.
Ominous soundscapes and echoing speeches waste no time in setting up a gloomy mood soon to be broken by the unbridled aggression of thrashing drums and most of all through Masha’s raspy voice. Now follow me further to ‘Are You Breathing’, which is on a much higher level regarding the intensity of the guitar arrangements while adding a touch of frigid ambience as well. Drums don’t come as fast as on the opener still they maintain an intransigence that’s really heavy. Some song titles in music suggest a certain mood or situation and then are going into a completely different direction. Not in the case of ‘Hunter’, as it’s just what you would expect. The song goes straight from zero to hero after a rather chilling introduction with decaying bell chimes. The adrenaline gets pumped through your veins en masse when breathtakingly speedy riffs and ass kicking drum hits are chasing each other; or is it rather that they’re chasing Masha who’s constantly screaming through the chorus “I’m the Prey, you’re the Hunter”.
I was hardly expecting something like ‘Far From the Dark’ as I only knew the harsher side of EXILIA so far. Let me just say I was positively surprised by Masha’s emphatic vocal parts underscored only with grand piano and rich strings. Very nice! Well, short time after the tracks develops to what has come to popularity with the term ‘Power Ballad’. To the typical set of tools comprising guitar, down tempo drums and bass comes a majestic string arrangement mingling perfectly with the rest. ‘Deleted’ initially uses a riff that seems to be borrowed from the orient. Sounds very much like desert to me. Anyway, a few seconds later you’ll hear the song gaining momentum. What can I say, it’s pure rock and you should dance to it while it lasts. If I say ‘In The Air Tonite’ some might say “Doesn’t ring any bells!” some others will instantly think of PHIL COLLINS and indeed, it’s a rock/grunge cover version of the exact same song with Masha performing the vocals by turns clean and then with her raspy shouts and there’s a surprise waiting at the end of the song for you…
This album is sure to please all the EXILIA fans spread across the world waiting impatiently for new material. It has become a very diverse record with many resting poles for the ones also preferring a more balladry approach and then there are those tracks stirring up lots of dust and fairly kick some asses with their energy. Recommended!
Tracklist
01. Phoenix - 4:14
02. Are You Breathing - 3:12
03. The Hunter - 3:49
04. I'm Perfect - 3:06
05. Across The Sky - 4:33
06. Emptiness Of You - 4:12
07. Far From The Dark - 3:15
08. Deleted - 3:22
09. No Destination - 3:09
10. In The Air Tonight - 4:57
11. My Own Army - 3:50
12. Magnolia - 4:27
Line-up
Mascha - Vocals
Elio Alien – Guitar
Random – Bass
Alé - Drums
Website
http://www.exiliaweb.com/ / http://www.myspace.com/exilia
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 8
Sound: 8
Extras: -
Total: 8 / 10
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