Sleeping Romance - Enlighten
Sleeping Romance- CD Review
Enlighten
CD Info
2013
Ulterium Records
10 Tracks
English Lyrics
It is rare for me to find myself utterly impressed by a band’s debut album, but Enlighten was certainly impressive. Oftentimes, new bands in the symphonic metal genre have poor production, uninspired lyrics or they just sound like bad imitations of already accomplished bands. The first time I listened to Enlighten, I was seriously shocked by how professional Sleeping Romance sounded. I can’t say they didn’t use the Nightwish formula or that they don’t remind me of Sirenia, but what they do, they do well. In fact, I’ll go as far as saying they accomplished in one album what took other bands years to do.
Sleeping Romance is from Modena, Italy and they have signed with Ulterium Records. What sets Sleeping Romance apart from other female-fronted metal bands is the fact that they are Christian. Now, some people may feel put off by that, but I can attest to the fact that Enlighten is not preachy or forcing religion on the listener. It is an album which describes the journey the human soul takes to enter into this world. It speaks volumes about love, rebirth and the fights we must all endure. With that being said, this release has masterpiece written all over it from start to finish. The music is beyond catchy, and I often find that I have their songs stuck in my head on repeat. However, the fact that it’s catchy doesn’t mean they are commercial or their originality should be overlooked. In fact, they managed to create symphonic metal that can’t be misconstrued as “pop” metal.
The symphonic elements are very well done and reminiscent of Nightwish. For those who don’t like an emphasis on symphonics, Enlighten may not be for them. However, the guitar work isn’t muddled by overproduction and the drumming isn’t over-the-top, so the metal is definitely there. I think Federica Lanna is a spectacular choice as the lead vocalist. She may not be a forceful singer like Floor Jansen, but she has an angelic clarity to her voice that draws the listener in. Her vocals are easy on the ears and she can definitely hit those high notes without struggling.
I’m not sure if other people are captivated by album artwork as much as I am, but I think packaging counts too. I often like to analyze how well a band’s album art describes their sound. I think Sleeping Romance definitely got it right for Enlighten and artist, Felipe Machado Franco, did a fantastic job at creating eye-catching artwork that screams for your attention.
The album starts out with an epic instrumental track titled, “Hybrid Overture” which is a great way to start an amazing album. The first real track of the album is “Enlighten” which starts out with energetic guitars and a somber-like atmosphere. It is one of the catchiest songs I’ve heard in a while, and it has a great guitar solo that I’ve honestly come to expect from most female-fronted bands at some point. “The Promise Inside” feels like a continuation of the last track and flows nicely with the overall concept and you can hear how great Federica hits those high notes. It is a truly angelic track which is filled with emotion. However, the album continues on without any filler tracks.
The next track is “Soul Reborn” and it does sound quite a bit like one of Nightwish’s latest releases. The song continues the journey of the human soul, but it does so in a manner that doesn’t make you feel too caught up in the overall concept. What I love about the next track, “Free Me” is how it manages to be heavy, atmospheric and light at the same time. The symphonic elements aren’t as prominent in this track as they are in others and the guitars get the limelight for once. This album doesn’t have many ballads, but “December Flower” qualifies as one. It starts out moody with symphonic arrangements, but it builds up to a climactic ending with crunchy guitars which I think really gets the listener’s attention back.
My favorite track on this album (possibly the catchiest) would have to be “Finding My Way”. It demonstrates the perfect balance between symphonic arrangements and metal. For those who have had their doubts about this band, I think “Finding My Way” can definitely change their minds. “Passion Lost” sounds a lot like a story begging to be listened to. The highlight of this track for me was the passion with which Federica can sing and capture the listener’s attention with airy yet solid vocals that not many vocalists can pull off. “Devil’s Cave” has a mythological feel to it and you can hear Federica sing on the lower registers for some parts. It has a very catchy chorus that is hard to get out of your head. The closing track is “Aeternum” which is purely instrumental and done well at that without missing the epic feel.
Overall, my first impression of Enlighten is a very good one. Sleeping Romance doesn’t necessarily do anything that strays from the usual female-fronted symphonic metal acts, but the album is produced to perfection. There isn’t anything that I could personally fault with this release. None of the tracks are fillers, and meanwhile, I personally am not a fan of concept albums, this one plays well from track to track. I don’t have the inclination to skip anything because I’m bored, the symphonic elements are not half-hearted, the vocalist is easy to listen to and the metal is present. Would I recommend this album? Absolutely!
The album will be released on November 1, 2013 for Europeans and December 3, 2013 for North America.
Score: 9.25 / 10
