EVENOIRE
Formed in 2007, Evenoire describe themselves as having “a wide range of influences, from Gothic to Symphonic Metal with a very distinctive Medieval/Folk approach”, which is actually a pretty good description of what they are. It seems to have set them in good stead as they’ve managed to get themselves a recording contract and sort an album out in the form of ‘Vitriol’.
From the first “proper” track the band manage to show their diversity, switching seamlessly from symphonic metal to a more folksy sound. This is also apparent in their use of vocals; although Lisy does use more operatic vocals she also has a power to her voice which is evident even in the less symphonic moments on the album that sets her apart from some of the other vocalists in the genre. There’s even some growls thrown in for good measure, not from Lisy though I assume. At points when they bring in the more folk-y element to their sound, especially during the opening section of ‘Misleading Paradise’, you get the feeling that this is what Jethro Tull would sound like if Ian Anderson was a woman. That aside, it’s one of the strongest tracks on an overall very strong debut album, or at least one of the tracks that’s most likely to stick in your memory (or your head at least).
The whole thing is easy to listen to without being overly simplistic and there’s not a single song on the album that I’d classify as being bad or something that could be considered as being purely filler. Although it might look short tracklist-wise, it’s preferable to a longer album with tracks that distract from the work as a whole. It could be argued that female-fronted bands have to work harder to prove themselves as being truly credible artists in a fairly male-dominated music scene but despite this being their debut album it looks like they’ve done enough to not only prove themselves but may also have set a precedence for those to follow.
From the first “proper” track the band manage to show their diversity, switching seamlessly from symphonic metal to a more folksy sound. This is also apparent in their use of vocals; although Lisy does use more operatic vocals she also has a power to her voice which is evident even in the less symphonic moments on the album that sets her apart from some of the other vocalists in the genre. There’s even some growls thrown in for good measure, not from Lisy though I assume. At points when they bring in the more folk-y element to their sound, especially during the opening section of ‘Misleading Paradise’, you get the feeling that this is what Jethro Tull would sound like if Ian Anderson was a woman. That aside, it’s one of the strongest tracks on an overall very strong debut album, or at least one of the tracks that’s most likely to stick in your memory (or your head at least).
The whole thing is easy to listen to without being overly simplistic and there’s not a single song on the album that I’d classify as being bad or something that could be considered as being purely filler. Although it might look short tracklist-wise, it’s preferable to a longer album with tracks that distract from the work as a whole. It could be argued that female-fronted bands have to work harder to prove themselves as being truly credible artists in a fairly male-dominated music scene but despite this being their debut album it looks like they’ve done enough to not only prove themselves but may also have set a precedence for those to follow.
LABEL:
FORMAT:
Scarlet Records
Album
VITRIOL
Review by Siân Williams
RUNNING TIME:
46:02
RELEASE DATE:
26th March 2012
TRACK LISTING
1) Vitriol
2) Days of the Blackbird
3) Misleading Paradise
4) Forever Gone
5) The Prayer
6) Girl by the Lake
7) Minstrel of Dolomites
8) Alchimia
9) Wise King
2) Days of the Blackbird
3) Misleading Paradise
4) Forever Gone
5) The Prayer
6) Girl by the Lake
7) Minstrel of Dolomites
8) Alchimia
9) Wise King
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
Italy
"...despite this being their debut album it looks like they’ve done enough to not only prove themselves but may also have set a precedence for those to follow."
