WINTER IN EDEN

‘Echoes of Betrayal’ is the third recorded instalment from Winter in Eden. From their debut in 2009 they have amassed an impressive touring portfolio and have released new material in regular intervals, keeping their presence known to all. The artwork for this latest album reminds me of bands such as Nightwish but this UK-based band have created a sharp, symphonic metal sound that has gone against the grain of other female-fronted bands so as to try and stand apart and not to be automatically grouped along with the numerous other acts with female vocals that have appeared over recent years. The album implements various instruments and techniques to bring in some orchestral elements but they spend most of the time in the background enhancing the main core components of the traditional band and only being brought into focus at key stages for short periods to add depth. The vocals are crystal clear and incredibly sharp; the same can be said for the instrumental section which creates an album with an incredible sound and production quality. But after spending some time listening to the album I can only come to this conclusion: I like it but it’s not amazing. It’s difficult to pinpoint why. The vocals are impressive, the scores and riffs are well implemented and the overall quality is great but it feels like something is just missing. Let me go into greater detail…the more I listened to it the more it has grown on me and I do enjoy listening to it but it never jumps out and grabs you; never makes you stop and think that was awesome but, on the other hand, I have not wanted to skip any of the tracks and none of the songs have made me want to stop listening. It forever lingers in the realm of “good”, whereas great or even terrible provokes a reaction and makes them memorable (for better or worse). As such, this ‘Echoes of Betrayal is not overly memorable. All of the individual components are well execued but the whole just seems to be lacking something.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Self-released

Album

ECHOES OF BETRAYAL

Review by Matthew Gray

RUNNING TIME:

54:47

RELEASE DATE:

28th May 2012

TRACK LISTING

1) For the Few; 2) Possession
3) The Awakening Chapter III - Torment
4) The Awakening Chapter IV - Regret
5) The Awakening Chapter V - Descension
6) Trapped
7) Lies
8) Suffer in Silence
9) Eyes of a Child
10) What We Leave Behind
11) Stone Cold

12) The Secret Room

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

UK

"...this UK-based band have created a sharp, symphonic metal sound that has gone against the grain of other female-fronted bands..."