Always nice to hear a debut from a new and talented band, this time from Germany, looking to make a nice big splash in the glistening waters of the Symphonic Metal pool. Their name made me think they might be a cross between The Vision Bleak and Lunatica…and in a small way they are, but on the grander scale, think somewhere around the Delain or Within Temptation area. And right up there on songwriting and performance ability already!
The Within Temptation comparison is largely based in the gorgeous tones and delivery of vocalist Amara Avodem, who has much of the power, dexterity and confidence that Sharon den Adel is known for, but if I was to be more analytical about the music, the band have taken a base from elements of “Mother Earth” and “The Silent Force”, and then fast-forwarded it to drive it home in the way Delain or Epica would nowadays. It works really well too.
Very well indeed to be honest! The professionalism and maturity on display here is phenomenal, it’s really hard to believe this is a debut. I think that’s why I keep thinking of early Within Temptation because the band sound so full of the energy and enthusiasm that comes from not being long jaded by the music industry (see the aforementioned Delain before they joined Napalm Records – a cautionary tale for Visionatica maybe?). I guess Visionatica don’t bring anything earth-shatteringly new to the genre, but they really don’t need to – and what they do bring is a bench-mark for other new bands to aspire to and a wealth of damn fine songs executed perfectly.
And of the songs themselves…y’know what? I really don’t want to spoil it! I’m sure there are plenty of people out there whose appetite has been whetted by the names dropped here already, but I will add that the heavy tracks never lack intensity or interest, the melodies throughout are fabulous, the orchestration is never over-powering (always there for the good of the song, not the ego) and each musician involved is excellent. They even have a guest male vocalist (Michael Liewald of Winterstorm) on ‘The Thorns’ and I thought “Oh here we go, another bloody Disney-style duet”, but far from it, it’s totally different and thoroughly enjoyable, especially when it…nope, I’m not spoiling it!
I’m properly impressed – this album has every reason why I got into this style so many years ago, back before the major players got inflated and record companies demanded the bands followed a dollar-sign driven blueprint. Visionatica have arrived and launched themselves straight into the top division, just by doing what they do so damn well. Long may it continue.
(8/10 Andy Barker)
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