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WHYZDOM
www.whyzdom.com
‘Blind?’ Is the sophomore album from French ‘Symphonic Metal’ band Whyzdom’ (or ‘Philharmonic Metal’ as they like to call themselves on their website) which is a description that actually fits quite well with their sound. Formed in 2007 by guitarist and composer Vynce Leff they sit in the seemingly ever growing list of bands populated by the likes of Delain, Epica, Within Temptation, Amberian Dawn, Nightwish etc, although with a heavier, more riff orientated sound, than some of their peers. Musically, if you are a fan of this genre of metal, is where ‘Blind?’ excels. Some of the riffs and arrangements are real foot stompers, the orchestration is superbly handled and the addition of a real choir to proceedings produces some gorgeous melodies. Ably backed up by Regis Morin (Guitars), Mark Ruhlmann (Keyboards), Xavier Corrientes (Bass) and Nico Chaumeaux (Drums) Leff should be very proud of his song writing abilities.

I bet, however, you can feel a ‘but’ coming and you would indeed be right in that assumption. There are two problems with this album. Firstly, at eighty minutes plus it is way too long. Value for money perhaps, but when you struggle to listen to all of it in one sitting, any sort of continuity is lost. I really do feel this could have been trimmed back by some margin to make the whole listening experience more dramatic. Sometimes less is definitely more. Secondly, and perhaps even more importantly, I have a problem with the lead vocals, which are handled by new singer Elvyne Lorient. Now, don’t get me wrong, she has got a lovely voice but, bearing in mind the heaviness of some of the material, she comes across as light in the power department, perhaps ‘too wistful’ would be a better description. Her delivery also loses the music some of its identity and the band end up sounding much like others in the genre. Her vocals are also very high in the mix which doesn’t help either. I have read that she joined the band and added her vocals after the rest had already been written and recorded so that might well have something to do with it. I really do feel, though, that the addition of a male vocalist to share singing duties would be a really positive move for the band. There is a lot to like about Whyzdom, especially if you like female fronted metal, but they don’t hit the mark for me yet. Perhaps album number three, if they can keep this lineup, will produce the result that I’m sure they are capable of.
LABEL:
FORMAT:
Scarlet Records
Album
BLIND?
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Review by Rick Tilley
RUNNING TIME:
83:30
RELEASE DATE:
30th Oct 2012
TRACK LISTING
1) The Lighthouse
2) Dancing With Lucifer
3) Cassandra's Mirror
4) On the Road to Babylon
5) Paper Princess
6) The Spider
7) The Wolves
8) Venom and Frustration
9) Lonely Roads
10) The Foreseer
11) Cathedral of the Damned
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
France
"Some of the riffs and arrangements are real foot stompers, the orchestration is superbly handled and the addition of a real choir to proceedings produces some gorgeous melodies."
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