Akoma is a female fronted symphonic metal band led by vocalist Tanya Bell and guitarist Morten Harboe. They recorded a short EP entitled Angels of Revenge in 2006 which met with some success locally and then went to work doing some live performances. Following some personnel changes that added bassist Daniel Nielsen and drummer Peter Buur, the quartet found some local assistance for the production of Lost Forest resulting in what, in my opinion, is a signature statement in the area of symphonic metal.

It’s a little difficult to say much about Akoma, there is a website and a MySpace where you can hear most of their recorded material:

www.myspace.com/akomamusic

Akoma is definitely heavy on the symphonic. And that work is done, I have to assume, by songstress Tanya Bell who is listed as the keyboards artist. And her work is first-rate, both with the background music and some layered vocals, which are also heard at various times.

The three song set under review here starts with the title cut Lost Forest. There is a symphonic intro that yields to the female vocal over a metal guitar base. That theme continues throughout the song and the vocals drive the selection, and a wonderful female vocal it is. Bell has a sound that others dream of, the background material is there to amplify that sound and the composite is something to behold.

The second offering is Running Away and it furthers the strong intro that precedes it. There is again a strong symphonic background that is enhanced by the guitars and leads to the vocals provided by Bell. Some voices are meant to be presented against a symphonic background and Bell is one of these. The guitars are more than acceptable and the drums play their respective rolls, but it is the vocals against the symphonic that drives this song. Bell has an emotive appeal that fits into the music, a sound that merges with the background music that few can match.

The short EP concludes with Forgotten Hero which is more of a metal composition, heavy on the guitars with a featured drum line that is not apparent in the previous two selections. Bell takes this tune in some serious vocal directions. The sound moves into some atmospheric directions, which focus on the interplay with the guitars. Light on the symphonic, heavy on the guitars, solid on the vocals. There is some interesting background vocal material but the focus is on the main vocals.

This is one of those compositions that make us yearn for more. We love what we got, we like the potential, we want more. Lyrics may or may not be what we want; they are not readily available for review. But the sound, both on the CD and on the videos currently available are something that begs for more. We can only hope that circumstances develop to provide more from this interesting and very talented group of performers.

It’s interesting that some music seems to take off immediately, maybe it’s the names, and maybe it’s the label. But sometimes, there are little gems that don’t immediately connect, they don’t get the airplay, they don’t get the widespread exposure, whatever. But a vocal like Bell, a symphonic like that presented here, the background material, this is what it’s all about in the female vocal realm. Let us hope this is something that gets promoted, something that grows, something that we can have available to appreciate. We will all be the better for it.

9.5 / 10