On the whole, I tend to find Symphonic Metal to be one of the most optimistic and positive of all the many fantastic Metal styles out there. Musically and lyrically the genre leans easily towards that look-on-the-bright-side approach, which, lets be honest, Metal in general doesn’t usually encourage. It was really nice to read that this ethos is basically the whole idea behind this new collaboration between vocalist Viktorie Surmøvá and guitarist/vocalist Heri Joensen (who most will know from his main band Tyr). And god knows we could all do with a bit of optimism this year.
Now I’m not saying the material on offer on “The Light Within” will melt a Black Metal heart or thaw a Doom Metal soul, but if you’re open to a bit of musical escapism, incorporating lavish melodies, sweeping orchestration, powerful guitar, energetic rhythms and inspiring lyrics then Surma might just be the thing for you. Also, I’m pleased to observe that this isn’t the overly whimsical Symphonia that sometimes masquerades as more than it is – no Disney-style ballads here! The music has a slightly harder, different, more complex edge to it than the norm, due I’m sure to Joensen’s influence, who has been able to build the music around the genesis of a vocal line, rather than the other way around. It never really dips into Power Metal, alternatively it seems to really encapsulate the spirit of Symphonic Metal, but with just a touch of underlying Epic Viking Metal Tyr-ness in the guitar and melody lines (‘Lost To Time’ being a great example).
Viktorie Surmøvá has an easy, unstrained tone, always note perfect and delivered smoothly and with total class, harmonizing herself as well as with Joensen expertly (whose vocal contributions are also as fabulous as you would expect). Surmøvá was/is part of the Bohemian Metal Rhapsody project (with Joensen) and has done a few guest appearances for other bands in recent times, but this is her first real experience taking the main vocal lead, so the job she does here is even more admirable. She stays mainly within her comfort zone vocally and I’m sure future releases will see her voice pushed a little further (like in the fabulous chorus to ‘Until It Rains Again’ for instance, where she dips convincingly into Charlotte Wessels territory, and also in the excellent ‘Downfall’ too). But this is by no means a criticism – it’s just when you’ve heard as many splendid vocalists in this style as I have, sometimes you can hear that there is so much more in the tank as it were, ready to be unleashed down the line, which makes the albums to come an even tastier prospect – as if they weren’t already!
But to finish the review I would like to quote Viktorie Surmøvá directly as to her thoughts behind the album – I hope she doesn’t mind. She says “I believe we can make something good in this world, and we can help people through hard times and inspire them to have hope in the future, and generally inspire a better mood and a better feeling in those who listen to our music”. This is surely a more enticing reason to check out this excellent album than anything I could possibly say about it.
(8.5/10 Andy Barker)
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