» 3 out of 5 Evil Faces

Again it has been awhile since my last review. Or for that matter since I have published anything around here.

Though do not fear, I am never far away! I have just been busy as usual with work, the holidays and all that good stuff. Plus I was sick a couple of weeks ago.

Sorry for my tardiness.

Anyway on with the topic at hand. As I am sure none of you really care about my work, how I prepare for Xmas, or my well being.

It’s time for another CD review. This time it is for a band that sent me their demo to check out. The band is Seasons Of Sorrow and the CD is titled The Awakening.

SOS are from Canada and play a somber up tempo style of melodic black metal. I have listened to it 4 times now. (It’s a short CD with only 3 songs for a total of roughly 20 minutes)

It is a mixture of black, melodic and symphonic metal with a folk influence. I am not sure if it is the recording, the timing or the tuning, but some of it sounds a little out of place to me.

The vocals vary from demonic roars and growls to a more melodic style incorporating female vocals. I am not a total fan of the clean vocal styles presented here. It isn’t necessarily bad, it’s just not my thing.

There are parts of this CD I really like, then there are parts I could live without. Overall the music is pretty good, the tempo changes alot, the rhythm is cool, but there are a few parts where it just seems weird to me.

Their sound is not completely unique, but there are some aspects of Seasons Of Sorrow that I am sure I have never really heard anyone else do.

If I had to pick another band that Seasons Of Sorrow reminds me of, I would say Asmegin. Though it is by mo means an exact match. Mainly the violin reminds me of them.

So to sum up. If you are into melodic black folk metal with keyboards, clean and growling vocals mixed with violins, then be sure to check out Seasons Of Sorrow as I am sure you will not be dissapointed.