Apparition - For Vengeance...and for Love
CD Info
2012
Metal Compass Records / UK
9 Tracks
English Lyrics
The Brits haven’t exactly ruled the musical world since the Beatles and the Stones. That’s not to say there haven’t been interesting sounds emanating from the British Isles all these years. But, in our style of music, the top contenders have been few and far between. Personally, I rather like the stuff coming from the Mediæval Bæbes. But, I mean, damn, if one hot chick works, you gotta love a bunch, ain’a. Apparition, however, is probably more representative of the type of music we find with the Femme Metal bands around the world these days. It’s clearly a Gothic sound, and that’s not something you get often from the British Isles. In fact, I’m really not sure what you get from the British Isles as a regular fare these days, although we have covered a number of acts which are strong in corollary genres. But Gothic, well, this is something a bit different. And, pretty good. It’s not the typical Gothic sound, a bit more angled towards a strong guitar riff, something of a fusion of Gothic Metal and rock. And, that may well appeal to some, head bangers not being a novelty to this type of music. But you also get a strong symphonic background, there is some classical influence to the music. The vocal comes from songstress Mary Ella who presents a nice blend of style. Not really opera, not typical rock, nice range, appropriate to the material being presented. However, it’s a bit more complicated than that. As is often the case with the Brits these days. I had some communication with David Homer of the band who plays a lot of the instruments and he had some interesting thoughts relative to the vocal components: "The vocalist is a young woman called Mary-Ella. I found her on a musicians finding website a few years ago. When I first contacted her she had some personal things to deal with but accepted my offer when she re-advertised last year. Mary did have singing lessons but has a naturally good voice. We didnt work together at all to be honest. I sent her the songs demos and she worked on her own. She is nice girl, quiet, friendly enough but sadly to say not into the 'female metal scene'. We were offered main support to Ex Cradle of Filth backing singer Sarah Jezebele Deva's UK tour back in May along with 'Angels Rocks' fest in Belgium and Mary didn’t want to do them! I think she felt uncomfortable being the focus of the band. Thankfully Samantha Smallwood who we had worked with before and had co-written some songs on the album stepped in for the first half of the tour and Swedish singer Malin Nyberg did the second half!" Complicated, ain’a. Well, we get the Mary Ella stuff on this recording and believe me, it works. The lady can do a song. Interestingly enough, Mary Ella is one and done, she’s been replaced by another Femme Fatale, interestingly named Sakara. Check out the interview on Ravenheart for an introduction. I haven’t heard the girl but I can tell you she’s got a tough act to follow.
We’ve had some down time here at Sonic Cathedral and it’s given me some time to listen to a lot of new stuff. That’s pretty much where I live. I do appreciate the Epica material, the new Nightwish, the things coming from the Dutch in general. But, during this period of inactivity, I seem to be spending a lot of time listening to this British sound. And, that’s a rare thing for me, about as rare as listening to American although you know I love the Beiber. . . for comic relief. But this material takes me to places I want to visit. The song construction is solid, the guitars as good as they need to be, enough symphonics to keep me happy. The majority of the vocals are our lead lady, and, as I have suggested, she is outstanding. There are male vocals where appropriate, nothing overwhelming and not of the death variety but keeping the Gothic more or less where we want it. And the musical topics are a strong point, nice lyrical work with one that is damn near overwhelming. We’ll get to that one momentarily.
For Vengeance begins with a solid introduction. The World of our Creation is the longest track on the CD, some 8 minutes. It begins with a solid symphonic introduction over some earthly sounds that lead to the guitar riffs. You get pretty much the entire act with this one; you know where you’re heading. And the vocals would be hard to improve, the lady can sing. And the production is equally up to the task. I’d like to hear a little more symphonic on this one, the sound is epic and you just can’t get enough symphonic with that type of music. Just a thought, others will no doubt see thing differently. This is more of a guitar driven sound and that may find favor with others.
The second track is Beyond the Wrath of Ra. I’m thinking this has some connection with that movie The Mummy, or at least it seems to parallel the theme of the doomed lovers who get put to the torch for an unholy relationship. Lyrically, we follow that theme pretty much to the letter:
They clearly knew their debt was due / For spilling royal blood,
Over the dune, under the moon / They bathed in scarlet floods,
A legacy of jealousy / A crime that went too far,
But their love lives on / Their souls as one,
Beyond the wrath of Ra.
The sound is an interesting one, slower than the preceding track, actually a ballad of sorts. Nicely constructed, beautifully sung. . . and you can almost see that hot princess from the Mummy which does nothing to detract from the song.
Betrayed is another that exhibits strong production work. You get some choral components here, something done way too rarely IMO. If you can do it, with a real choral or an electronic one, DO IT. Again, the sound is epic, the guitars drive us headlong into Gothic pandemonium and the metal is there to make sure we don’t get lost. But this one does have the symphonics to make it work, you get more background here and it makes this one of the finest cuts on the package.
Traitors Gate is one that uses the male vocals. They introduce the sound, more of a spoken word than a male singing vocal. But, the introduction takes us again to a Gothic place:
Come to me my dear / I’ll make it clear you will be by my side
And I’ll make you see / You will be free only when I decide
Deep beneath the ground / Your life is bound and you’ll submit completely
Passing through the years / You’ll dry your tears and you will truly
LOVE ME!!!!
There’s bit of a conversation to this one. Rather a dark one to be sure but, hey, what the hell. That’s what the Goth is all about.
Well, there’s a lot of good stuff on this CD. But, there is one GREAT track. Now, this may be a personal preference for me, I’ve done a lot of military, lost a lot of friends in bad places doing bad things. So, that’s a topic I take seriously. But The Forgotten Ones stopped me dead in my tracks. The song is based on a poem by Robert Laurence Binyon entitled For The Fallen. It was written during World War I at a time of desperation for the English people. And it captures the depth and devastation of war as few other words in the English language. The direct passage from the poem is as follows:
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
The song builds on that refrain in a gripping and emotional rendition. Few Gothic sounds have made a greater impression on me. And, by the way, it’s a great song, even without knowing the background.
Well, I’d be going overboard to say that Apparition have put the Brits back on the Gothic map, there are others to be sure. But this one sure doesn’t hurt. I don’t know what the new vocalist will do for the sound, but you’re probably going to find little to complain about with this one. And with one of the great message songs in the history of the genre.
9.5 / 10
