Australian fans of symphonic female fronted heavy rock/metal rejoice, we now have a band that can truly compete on the world stage in this specialised sub genre. There have been a few Aussie acts here and there that have plied that kind of musical terrain, and made a pretty damn good fist of it. But Sydney’s AS ANGELS BLEED seem to be best equipped to carry the Aussie goth torch forward.
Apparently this album was a few years in the making, and was constantly refined in the band’s home studio. The extra time really paid off, the production is just superb, world class even, and for a self funded effort that’s a mighty effort. Each and every one of those disparate elements can be heard as clear and as clear as crystal. The guitars are powerful, the drums punchy and the symphonic elements lend colour without overly dominating. And the alternatively powerful and ethereal voice of lead vocalist Avelina De Moray soars above it all in a world of its own.
The songs, well they’re excellent as well. Varied, heavy, melodic and very dark. All culminating in the epic 10 minute closer ‘Beautifully Decayed’, which sees the band really stretching out and winding their songwriting and playing chops out to their absolute fullest extent. The song is like the soundtrack to some big budget Hollywood gothic/horror flick.
Yes, the lyrics are a little cheesy at times, but you come to expect that from bands such as these. And it’s a relatively minor blemish when the overall effect is so very convincing.
In fact, convincing is a word that comes to mind frequently when reviewing an album such as this. This album could stand toe to toe with the vast majority of records that get released in this sub-genre worldwide, and for a DIY band from Sydney, that is a mighty effort indeed.
BY ROD WHITFIELD
Best Track: Beautifully Decayed
If You Like These, You’ll Dig This: Nightwish, Type O Negative, Epica
In a Word: Eye-opening
