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France’s Adamenth is, at its basest roots, a traditional metal band. Each song on this eponymous opening salvo features a relatively strong – if not particularly original – guitar riff that indicates some affinity for the genre heroes of yesteryear. Unfortunately, these ersatz tunesmiths upend that promise by leapfrogging from one song part to the next in a manner betraying its neophyte status. Dryly-mixed keyboards swirl ala prog and swoon ala goth, the delicate soprano vocals deepen the stake in the latter territory and are harnessed still further by the cliched beauty-and-beast interplay. For the most part, though, this is an all-female show, and frontwoman Charlotte walks away with the show almost entirely, especially on the curiously titled “Forest of Thoughts (Piano Version);” where the hell is the electric version? On some level, this is a nice throwback to the early Dutch gothic bands like Asrai, Within Temptation and Orphanage, but DSFA Records has long since evaporated, as has my sense of awe towards the sort of chiaroscuro gender-bending on display here. Lovely singing, no question, and maybe I’ll reconsider my strenuous criticism as the songwriting bugaboos work themselves out, but for now I’m not quite on board. And those near-blast sections.... Guys, just - no, no, noooo.
| Tracklist |
| 1. Intro |
| 2. Mad Scene |
| 3. Beloved Demon |
| 4. Forest of Thoughts |
| 5. Escape |
| 6. Weak Hope |
: 30:38
| Buy other Adamenth albums |
