Echoes of Eternity As Shadows Burn
by Joe Mis
Staff Writer
As Shadows Burn is the second release from LA-based prog rockers Echoes Of Eternity, and a fine release it is. Echoes Of Eternity continue on with their unique sound – mostly progressive metal, with a nice mix of symphonic rock, melodic death metal and a bit of thrash thorn in for good measure. It is a fine follow up to their 2007 debut of The Forgotten Goddess.
Echoes of Eternity was founded by drummer Kirk Carrison and guitarist Brandon Patton. Canadian born vocalist Francine Boucher, bassist Duane Cowan and second guitarist Bryan Eagle join them. Boucher’s fine vocals and Carrison’s energetic drumming dominate the music of Echoes Of Eternity. The others in the band are not slouches by any means, but the tracks are definitely built around Boucher and Carrison. Influences of bands ranging from Iron Maiden to Metallica can be heard at various points on As Shadows Burn, but EoE remains its own band.
Francine Boucher has an almost silky smooth voice, not at all what one would expect to find in a power metal influenced band. She does not have the raw power of Doro or Amy Lee, and shows little growl or bite. Her range is good, but her voice has a tendency to thin out a bit when she pushes the top end. Boucher is a real singer, more suited to pop or ballads than metal in the same way Tarja Turunen of Nightwish was suited for opera. On first listen one may wonder about the band’s choice of vocalists, but after listening to the album it is easy to realize that it all just works. Her vocal lines sound effortless and they flow smoothly and clearly, almost sounding relaxed – not a scream or shriek anywhere. This is in total contrast to the always energetic and occasionally manic double bass drums of Kirk Carrison. Duane Cowan’s bass somehow manages to keep up with the drums, and shows him to be a very capable musician. Brandon Patton and Bryan Eagle lay down some incredibly aggressive and choppy guitar lines. They work well together and somehow seem to play unbelievably fast even during the slower tracks. They can shred, no doubt about it.
The nine tracks on As Shadows Burn hold together lyrically and stylistically making for a truly mature and cohesive album – somewhat surprising for such a young band, and there isn’t a “stinker” in the bunch.
The musical highlight is undoubtedly “Descent Of A Blackened Soul.” Each band member seems to shine on this track – Boucher’s vocals and lyrics are amazing and the band outdoes itself with complex tempo changes and excellent musicianship. “Funeral In The Sky” is an instrumental piece that proves that EoE is not just a gimmick band built around a singer – these guys rock, and can play well.
The production and engineering of As Shadows Burn is very good – crisp and clean as prog metal should be, but the ultra-clean mix is unusual for the “thrash” elements making for some interesting listening. The music itself is slanted a bit heavily towards the rhythm line, emphasizing the drums, bass and rhythm guitar – but that seems to work as a production choice and suits the music well. The only thing lacking is backing vocals. Boucher does double up for the choruses, but having an additional contrasting voice singing backup would make the album seem truly complete.
All in all, As Shadows Burn is a solid record, avoiding the dreaded “sophomore jinx.” The music is dark and moody but always melodic. The amazing contrast between the soft and sweet vocals and the aggressive music make for a fascinating and unique sound. Fans of progressive metal or strong female singers will enjoy this one. Highly recommended!
Label: Nuclear Blast
Web: http://www.myspace.com/echoesofeternity
http://store.nuclearblastusa.com/Artist/Echoes_Of_Eternity/89048
Track Listing:
01 – Ten Of Swords
02 – Veiled Horizon
03 – Memories Of Blood And Gold
04 – The Scarlet Embrace
05 – Descent Of A Blackened Soul
06 – Twilight Fires
07 – Buried Beneath A Thousand Dreams
08 – Letalis Deus
09 – Funeral In The Sky
HRH Rating: 9/10