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The Best Atmospheric/Symphonic Metal Album - Metal Storm Awards 2008 | 
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The Best Atmospheric/Symphonic Metal Album
Nominations
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| The latest from the Turks sees mastermind Soner Canözer take the band in a much more symphonic direction, letting the power metal guitarwork do the supporting act for memorable female vocals, an ambitious production, and even a guest appearance by Ogün Sanlisoy of Mezarkabul fame. While a few faster tracks in the vein of older releases are found, "Kiyamet Senfonisi" really puts the slower-paced ballads to the forefront, giving the stage to Soner Canözer's symphonic arrangements. Complete with Vitaly Samarin Alexius's hauntingly romantic cover art, Almôra have crafted their most cohesive work yet. MySpace |
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| Following the path laid forth on last year's "Evernight," the band's latest effort is at once epic and dramatic, and yet reminiscent and forceful. As always, the band takes its inspirations from J.R.R. Tolkien, with the album's title referring to the alliance of Elves and Men before their defeat of Sauron, and how one man's greed allowed evil to live afterward. Vocalist Kaisa Jouhki is light yet obscure, and Tomi Mykkänen is harsh and stout, together telling tales of the "Silmarillion" and "The Lord Of The Rings" atop folkish atmospheres and guitar melodies that inspire somber and energetic stories of battles won and lost. Let us grab our swords and conquer our fears and revisit the glory of the Elder Days! MySpace |
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| Easily the band's heaviest effort yet, "MyEarthDream" offers us a bombastic album filled with the mature and emotional vocals of Sabine Edelsbacher and the well-polished guitar sounds of songwriter and producer Lanvall. Full of energy, life and urgency, Edenbridge redefines the symphonic metal sound here with impossible to forget melodies, the strength of the Czech Film Orchestra throughout, and lyrics that will make you contemplate humanity's role on Earth. A decade in the making, Edenbridge has refined their already strong sound into one of expansive and grandiose proportions! MySpace ›› Full review... |
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| Finally, Haggard have returned, complete with all of their orchestral power metal glory! One of the most anticipated albums in symphonic metal for the year, the band stays true to the formula of their "Eppur Si Muove" album, this time interspersing the songs with expert narration from Mike Terrana. Main composer Asis Nasseri switches from historical subjects to a fantasy-driven epic story of good versus evil, adding new breath to Haggard's lyrics. Even pulling out the surprise cover of Mecano's "Hijo De La Luna" in a style only Haggard could succeed with, "Tales Of Ithiria" reclaims Haggard's place as a symphonic band operating on its own terms with few - if any - equals. MySpace ›› Full review... |
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| Fronted by Katra Solopuro, "Beast Within" is an instantly accessible album with a warm sense of innocence centered around lost love and life's eternal and internal mysteries. The album shines with opener "Grail Of Sahara" and the video and title track, where the catchy guitar melodies and uptempo drumming balance Solopuro's lush and often operatic vocal lines. Katra leaves us with the knowledge that while happier times and romantic love may forever be in the past, there is hope to overcome our inner darkside and keep our childhood dreams alive. MySpace |
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| If you're at all interested in female vocals with metal, surely Midnattsol's newest release is an album you can't overlook. The band has come up with some very pleasant music and mixed it with some nice atmospheres that fit well with Carmen Espenæs' operatic vocals. The ease with which with the music comes across with the soothing female vocals makes this album well worth it. MySpace |
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| Confidently pushing ahead with what they started on "Seducia," Silentium have given us one of the most dreary symphonic metal albums yet. Betrayal, broken hearts, and a craving for the end are some of the subjects lead vocalist Riina Rinkinen speaks of, layered atop the woeful melodies of guitarists Juha Lehtioksa and Toni Lahtinen and Sami Boman's sorrowful keys. Complete with choirs and orchestral instruments throughout, Silentium takes us on a poetic trip that comes alive with each listen and is an ideal album for all those whose only solace is to embrace the never-ending storm of life. MySpace |
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| After four long years since the band's first EP, the Americans offer us their full-length debut of diverse, worldly atmospheric metal that is a grand companion to personal reflection and solitude. Few vocalists can match the vocal range of Laurie Ann Haus, who leads us on a walk of operatic, Celtic, and Eastern styles with lyrics deep in longing and desire. Doomy guitarwork from Jason Aaron Wood mixed with the pensive sounds of Patrick Geddess's violin and James Lamb's keys provide the foundation to the visions of misty fields, inescapable emotional seas and withering leaves and roses that Todesbonden surrounds you in. A debut that has surely been worth the wait! MySpace ›› Full review... |
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| A female version of the traditionally male "Green Man" adorns the cover, beckoning you in with curiosity as the woman's face emerges through leaves. With a subtlety and beauty of lost mystical lands, Unshine's second full length slowly wraps you in its cloak of druidic atmospheric metal. From thoughts of animals spirits and of moonlit forests of evergreens, the balance of Harri Hautala's focused songwriting and Susanna Vesilahti's soothing vocals takes us one step closer to nature's timeless mysteries. MySpace |
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