|
|
|
|
| Buy this album |
Amaran are one of the bands who I have had the privelege of following all the way from their demo days up till now when they are about to release their second full-length album for the French label Listenable Records. It has actually already been released in Japan in December 2003 but the rest of us have to wait until late January. For those of you who know them from before "Pristine In Bondage" will not offer any major surprises so you will feel very comfortable when listening to these ten new songs from the Swedish band. The song structures are still the same with rather complex death metal riffing, tempo shifts and the emotional vocals from female singer Johanna De Pierre. Her strong voice and non-metal background provide Amaran with a unique touch and adds that little extra to what would otherwise have been a well composed but nonetheless rather unpersonal sea of riffs and melodies. Compared to the previous album "Pristine In Bondage" may come off as slightly more mature and with more fluent song writing it will certainly impress fans of many different genres. I sincerely believe that even those who don't usually listen to metal can enjoy the music from Amaran. Worth mentioning is the song "Katharsis" though which sticks out from the rest as it builds on the contrast of brutal death metal riffing and grunts and more atmospheric sections where Johanna's clean vocals are put to work. There is really no other band who sounds like Amaran today and that is an important reason to why they have come this far. A mix of Opeth, Katatonia and The Gathering may be the most appropriate way to describe their sound. It is complex and massive and this is an album which will grow on you with each new listen. If you live in Belgium, France or Spain you will soon also have the chance to see Amaran live soon together with After Forever, Dark Moor and Nightmare. Stand-out tracks: "Atropine", "Inflict", "Katharsis", "24 Pills", "Crow Me" but overall the album is very even.
| Tracklist |
| 1. Atropine |
| 2. Revolution Without Arms |
| 3. Coming Home |
| 4. Inflict |
| 5. Without Stains |
| 6. Katharsis |
| 7. 24 Pills |
| 8. Wraith |
| 9. Crow Me |
| 10. Primal Nature |
: 43.34
| Buy other Amaran albums |
