Rainover - CD Review
Transcending the Blue and Drifting into Rebirth

Wormholedeath
2014
11 Tracks
English lyrics
10/10

I may have stated once or twice that I really like Spanish bands, whether they’re from Spain, South America, Central America or anywhere else.  Well, Rainover’s from Murcia, along the southern coast of Spain.  I know the place, passed through a couple times on my way to Africa to buy, er, ahh. . .supplies, at a well known supply depot in Tangiers.  During my hedonistic youth while studying at university in the beautiful city of Valencia.  And, during those days, I learned to speak Spanish with a Valencian accent, the most beautiful of all Spanish accents, IMO.  Well, guess what, Rainover’s lead singer, the lovely and very talented Andrea Casanova speaks with the same accent. . . unfortunately, not on this release which is entirely in English.  But hey, we take our small victories when we can get them, sure ‘nuff.

Although this will be the band’s first release, kinda, and I don’t really know exactly when it will be released, the band has some history.  They were previously known as Remembrances, before the days of Ms. Casanova’s association.  There was a release in 2008 and then something of a makeover.  The new project was renamed and the troop set sail for Italy to record some new material.  And someday, you’ll get to hear it.  But, the wait will be worth it, believe me. 

Well, the title is a long one.  Andrea gave me the lowdown and it’s pretty complete.  She provided a description that was given in an interview with Ravenheart and I told her I would paraphrase it but, well, I’ve been dancing with the Russian medicine and in no shape to get intellectual, so I’ll just give you the Ravenheart quote.  Me and Sir Dave are tight and I trust he won’t mind.  Anyway, here’s what the lady said: “The title is actually quite related to the cover art of the album (done by the great Spanish artist Mario S. Nevado –artistic name Aégis), which is much related to the lyrics, so everything converges in a same concept: the idea of our lives as a cyclic element. Every ending is a new beginning. Maybe every death is a start for something new, a new cycle starting. Maybe every life is a cycle in its own which leads to a new rebirth, and in life we go through different cycles, more deaths and rebirths, and after great sadness, after walking a long blue path, we can surely get to a new beginning. This happens with rain, as well, and its cycle –it dies to ascend again-, and it has happened in the very story of the band: we were born again under a new name, with a new line up. These ideas are behind the particular stories in the album, which hit different feelings and circumstances one can live all along his own life. The curious thing is that they were written by different people, but we share these feelings and projected them into the album.”

Well, shit, howdy and fall back in it.  Doesn’t leave much for me to say which is probably a good thing.  But we can discuss the music a little.  And, to keep your attention up, I can provide a link to at least one title.  You get a pretty fair representation of what the release is about with that one.  Some pretty fair metal, a pounding rhythm section, and one of the more sultry vocals in the industry.  I like the band, I like the material, I LOVE the vocalist. 

Well, one thing you need to understand is that the Spanish tend to embrace the Gothic.  And this band follows that direction.  Gothic is often viewed as a musical vehicle, but, to truly meet the requirements you need to talk the talk.  And Rainover has no problem meeting that requirement.  Despair is a haunting sound, darkness to stir the soul, just my kind of music.  This one has its roots in that darkness, and lyrically we hear:

Maybe it isn't worth / Searching for the purpose
Of this life / Of my existence

The questions that occur / They hit my head until I'm down
Can't go on / Wondering every dawn

Is this a normal life? / Trying to escape from my dark side
Suddenly / I see it all clear at last

That musical style continues, although not all the sounds are as dark.  And, the band utilizes male vocals on a number of tracks.  Those vocals come courtesy of Antonio Perea and they include both clean and death metal styles, as is the tradition of many Spanish bands.  Oh, My Cross takes this direction, the vocals are clearly a B & B interpretation of the traditional Gothic, as good as it gets.  Sometimes this style goes heavy on operatic vocals to the detriment of the male growling.  That’s not the case here, it’s really well produced, the sounds go seamlessly together, you get exactly what you need, exactly what you disserve. 

A lot of the music features those absolutely astounding female vocals provided by our lovely Spanish songstress.  An Ocean Between Us takes this direction.  There’s clearly a classical component to much of this material.  You get a nice symphonic here, there’s metal to keep you going, but it’s that strong female vox that keeps things together.  Again, the lyrics take us to dark, delicious places: 

Years of decay, awaiting for my moment / Losing the chance I left behind
Keep your beliefs despite what others tell you / Don't override your peace inside

[Oh, my cross]
The shield of my life is my cross / I feel I stand back from the tricks
It's my reaction on decline / Indoctrination makes me...

You get some solid metal on other occasions.  Dust and Dawn combines the best of all worlds.  Some solid metal, enough symphonics to keep you happy, and vocals, both individual and overlaid, but pounding in the truest tradition of the genre.  This is the sound that seperates the Spanish from a lot of the rest of the breed.  Crushing metal with a devestating female vocal, guitars driving us to Nirvana, keyboards puting it into perspective.  Makes this old Valenciano proud. 

It’s hard to decide which is better, the pounding metal or the dark Doom Metal oriented sounds that tug at the heart.  Hopeless has a capability to bring on a feeling of darkness hard to describe.  This is pain in the truest sense of the word.  The message meets the metal in every regard:

[Become aware]
Try to show us / that your life's not only pain
that a hope could change your dark side
[Begin again]
Although it hurts you / all this time will disappear
and with it the things you love

There’s clearly only one downside to this production.  YOU CAN’T GET IT.  At least not yet.  But, when you can, take my advice and purchase.  This is a big one.  This sound will be around for a while. 

And my diploma from La Universidad de Valencia never looked better.  I’ve never been prouder. 

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