GRYPHONMETAL.CH
THE EUROPEAN METALZINE
SETANERA
"New Era"
7HARD Records - division of 7US Media Group GmbH - Germany
Genre: ALTERNATIVE SYMPHONIC METAL
Review by Salvo Russo
 |
01. New Era 02. Bring Me Back 03. Spettralia 04. Dance Floor 05. I Must Go 06. Black River 07. Oltre 08. Heroes 09. Lie 10. Meadows Of May 11. Journey To The Freedom |
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Valentina Setanera
Alex Merola
Alessio Contorni
Dario Di Pasquale
Enrico Sandri
Majestic and melodic.
It’s a great pleasure to listen to this release.
Since I listened to their first demo, I realized that
they had nothing less than bands like Within Temptation or
Evanescence, and I really hope you’ll give them a chance to be
considered just like the above mentioned bands.
This first official album is the result of years of
hard work, and it’s great to say that we’ve a great Italian
Symphonic, Gothic
Rock/Metal band, ready to be appreciated all over the world;
I really appreciate and
underline that they sing both in English and Italian, and I’m sure
that foreign people will appreciate the Italian songs; Italian
language is not so musical as English, but they have found the key
to join Italian lyrics and
Gothic
Rock music !
Let’s start talking about this release; Modern,
melodic, powerful and melancholic are the four adjectives that
should perfectly describe the essence of it, but if you add
Valentina’s charm (she has also nothing to envy to Sharon den Adel
or Tarja Turunen both for charm and skills) it’s a done deal!
The
use of electronic is just essential and never excessive, and I can
say that the production is very good, just like those big artists
mentioned above.
“New
Era” is not the usual album that mocks the big releases
of this genre, it’s a mixture of influences that has something of
unique inside in its essence.
My examination starts with the title track that is also the first track
: it’s original melancholic rock blended with gothic
and some electronic parts; Valentina is wonderful to perform it in a
great way. I could say the same thing for “Bring
Me
Back” that could be loved by all those who like Within
Temptation, a great mid-tempo song in which
it’s noticeable a great refrain in which it’s too easy
for Valentina’s voice to be in the element; I want to underline a
great
Symphonic part with a
Gothic chorus!
It’s time for “Spettralia” the classic strong suite
already listened but here re-proposed and recorded too much better
than the first demo! The song is sung in Italian! Sublime…
“Dance
Floor” is a great song, one of the best (for me) in
which
Gothic
Metal is mixed to
Alternative
Metal in a great way; dark and powerful at the same
time, but absolutely melodic as usual…I want to underline the great
work made for arranging this song that is perfect in every little
particular!
It’s time for a special and suffering ballad “I
Must
Go”…WHAT A SONG!!! Crying, sad, majestic, melodic, and
essentially to the core of
Gothic…Evanescence meets Within Temptation, but could
you imagine the best of those bands together!? This song starts only
piano & voice but, it will burst after 3 minutes in a great way…
It’s time for another
Italian “old” song “Black River”; Here
it’s rearranged but it’s very similar to the first version; Italian
language rules!
The single “OLTRE” about which the band has
released also a video is pure magic! Great music, great voice, just
a little masterpiece! Italian melody is mixed to gothic and I’m sure
that this ballad could be appreciated by all those who don’t know
this genre; sad and sweet
with a touch of powerful but even easy listening .
“Heroes” is sung both in English and Italian, I want underline
again
that
this is,
in
my opinion,
the winning card of the band! It’s another good song full of power
and melody in which the band doesn’t fail the perfect sound
approach!
“Lie” is another re-arranged song
:
in my opinion is the less involving
one
of the album, it’s just my personal opinion, but its refrain and
melody
don`t
sound too
original, just avoidable for me!
I think that
“Meadows
Of May” is another not great song in which the band
made use of the experienced formula to compose another melody, not
too successful as others.
Fortunately the album is closed by
another great and epic song “Journey
To
The
Freedom”
in which the band is able to mix symphonic metal and gothic in
perfect way! Great melody and great work made to create a very
articulated structure in which symphonies are integrated with vocal
parts and solos.
I have no doubts, this is one of the best gothic
albums of this year!
9,2/10
Salvo Russo
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Postfach 201367 - D Waldshut- Tiengen
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