Adyta - Rose of Melancholy EP

Title: Rose of Melancholy
Artist: Adyta
Genre: Symphonic Metal
Release Date: 2009
Label: Self-Released



Album Review

I have to admit I have somewhat of a love-hate relationship with symphonic metal - having been a fan of the early symphonic pretensions of Dimmu Borgir and Emperor, as well as real classical music, and other genres that fused modern sounds with classical vocals, I however find myself annoyed by a lot of female fronted symphonic metal bands. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that the mix of operatic vocals and fast guitar work throws my timing off, and to my ears tends to jar against each other - Nightwish, Tristania, and Sirenia are all bands that really suffer from this on every release, yet Theatre of Tragedy, Leave's Eyes, and Pythia have completely mastered mixing the heavy and the sublime.

ADYTA are a funny one to categorize... Having only a five track EP, with one song being an instrumental, I can’t really put them in either camp just yet. While technically the musical arrangement is fantastic, epic, and extreme in alternate breaths, and Ferlaak's soprano vocals are great - they don't really go together 50% of the time. When it does work, it works extremely well, but when it fails the mix grates against your ears.

Track one, the prologue 'Ab Exilo' is a fantastic piece of film score quality symphonic keyboard work that puts me in mind of 'Dusk and her Embrace' era Cradle of Filth if they had more sophisticated sounding synthesizers. 'The Ophidian's Tongue' is a nice fast track with unfortunately mis-paced vocals that only really works when the Black Metal growls come in and then Ferlaak is used in a backing sense - what would help this track is rockier vocals more like Christina Scabbia. 'Rose of Melancholy' is a nice sombre ballad paced intro that descends into a more power metal style of fury - Ferlaak's vocals are way more suited to this track and don't sound as tacked on as the previous one. 'Gjennom Tiden' is a great track with a very classical lead and a slower pace that really suits the style the band is trying to achieve. 'Of a Captive Mind' starts well and is perhaps the best mixed track on the album it does use the operatic vocals for the sake of it more and more as it goes on which dulls the effect somewhat.

It's worth stating that this partnership is not a permanent arrangement, with Severinsen looking for a live ensemble in his native Norway, which writes the US based Ferlaak off - so it will be interesting to see where they go vocally on a future release. There is a lot of talent at work on Severinsen's part having written and recorded all the music - I do feel that a little more help on the production side would benefit the songs a lot more, but this is a first go so it can't be held against him. On the whole it is an interesting release - more one for slathering fans of all things symphonic rather than the casual or critical listener.


Track list

01. Ab Exilo
02. The Ophidian's Tongue
03. Rose of Melancholy
04. Gjennom Tiden
05. Of a Captive Mind


Line-up

Melissa Ferlaak
Joakim Severinsen


Websites

http://www.adyta.no/ / www.myspace.com/adyta


Cover Artwork