Apparently this Spanish symphonic and operatic band formed in Spain in 2005 and recorded just one song which got immediate airplay and inspired the band to write more. I would kind of like to go and find whoever played the song on the radio and severely chastise them for having done so as it has meant that I have the unwelcome task of reviewing the band’s debut album, which I have before me.
Generic and somewhat weedy synths and growly male voice start off the ‘Welcome’ of the album building into orchestral pomp and the cheese laden intro of first song proper ‘My Theatre Of Sadness And Pain.’ Is this an operating theatre I have to somewhat cruelly ask as singer May Lucas warbles in? It’s a short intro to that voice but she is back and literally wailing in a strained cat throttled style that really is not at all pleasant to listen to. The growler is back too and the instruments having got a semblance of trite melody are happy to amble along adding strings in a slapdash fashion but at least giving a break from the vocals.
Believe it or not but I do not actually like being nasty to bands but sometimes you simply have to be cruel and put things in perspective. This came with the declaration that it is for fans of Nightwish, Epica, After Forever, Within Temptation, Therion, etc. These are all bands that I hold high regard for and are all expert at what they do and although Secret Signs are of that ilk (loosely) they are in a completely different ballroom as far as quality and professionalism is concerned. The vocals often sound off key and are at times so difficult to listen to that I am shuddering. The music itself is generic and plods along on songs like ‘Words.’ There is little spark or excitement or even drive in it and the melodies are on the whole trite and utterly disposable.
We get the ballad with ‘Battle For The Darkness’ and for a while the vocals sound much more natural like although on the tired side. It does not last long though as the music goes into excessive keyboard canter and the battle is won again by the overblown pomp. The chorus is strong but for all the wrong reasons as it sounds so painfully off key I am literally cringing. The band obviously think they have hit pay-dirt though and repeat it over and over, not having a clue when to gracefully dip out of one song and move onto the next.
I try and look for positive things to say as this continues with the ten songs clocking in at a painful 52 minutes but as was the case with the several other listens I have given to this I am at a real loss. Perhaps I should give Secret Signs the benefit of the doubt and believe that there is someone out there who genuinely likes them. If they do feel free to drop your address and you can have my disc, I will never play it again. Perhaps the label anticipated this as they simply sent the booklet with the music on a CDR, literally fit for the bin.
(2.5/10 Pete Woods)
25/01/2013 at 11:04 pm
You had a bad day or a bad night, and there were Secret Signs, and you downloaded all your anger on them. I disagree with your opinion, it is also destructive and don’t help the music.
All opinions should be respected, but yours doesn’t deserve it, because you don’t respect a band that certainly had to work very hard to publish your CD.
I think they are a good band that doesn’t deserve this treatment. They are lucky that there are a lot of people who don’t think like you.
26/01/2013 at 2:10 pm
Cheers for the constructive message regarding this and I can appreciate the work that went into creating the album. For that reason a bad day or night is never an aspect that impacts upon a review. I tried my best to find positive things to say about this album over several listens at different time periods but found it incredibly difficult to do so.
Obviously I felt that comparisons had to be made to other bands who were highlighted in the press statement especially as they are all of a similar sub-genre and although my thoughts were admittedly harsh I have to stand behind them and my opinion.
We have to be honest in our thoughts otherwise it is unfair on readers and bands and not true to ourselves. I know of other sites out there who will not even review albums if they do not like them but this is wrong when a band and their label has put themselves in the public eye for criticism.
I am glad that Secret Signs have fans and people like them, who knows perhaps a few years down the line they will produce something that will have me eating my words; it won’t be the first time a band has done so.
Pete
26/01/2013 at 5:34 pm
Thanks for your answer, In my opinion Secret Signs is a band with its own personality and should not be compared with others.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lDuAO0oTFQ