Metal Storm album review of ‘The Failing Light’ (2003 demo), March 2004
[View the article on Metal Storm's website here]
[Metal Storm]
I came in contact with Season's End through our beloved Metal Storm, so it's extra fun to get to reviews this piece of plastic. And my first impression of the band (after downloaded the full song, "A Ghost on My Emotion", they have on their website) was that it was some kind of mainstream, but I realized fast when I got the album that it's just that song that's turning over against mainstream, even if it's after some spins feels less and less mainstream and now it's one of the strongest tracks on the album.
Season's End is based in Hampshire, United Kingdom, and has some years behind them with much hard work, that now paid back. The band is: Becki Clark - Lead Vocals, Dave Smith - Keyboards, David Stanton- Guitars & Vocals, Paul White - Drums, Daryl Kellie - Live Guitar & Toni Nicholls - Live Bass. The quartet (six-piece live) band has now released (back in November) their debut album, self-financed, but still a debut album. And the band is very clear that they don't want to be categorized in any genres, but it's hard not to call them a Gothic band.
As you can see, the album contains 6 songs and since the length is over 48min I hope you can guess that it's quite long songs we are dealing with here (Shortest is 5.15), but I just find that as a good thing, because the music they are playing never get boring, both the music and the lyrics is touching you deeply. Even if I find the best songs in the first half of the record, it's hard to find any song that's much better than another; it's a very solid album.
And now for the most boring part of a review, to take up the bad parts of the album (it's always hard since the bands is working hard and often "sacrifice" them self for their music), but it have to be done. For this album it's only one thing that's have to be said here, and it's the drum sound, (Just listen to the starter, "Touch") it's not good, it sounds so very I don't know, but it's sad because better drum sound and the album would have been even better. It's not the drummer that's bad, he is really good, it's only the sound. But I guess it's a matter of money, and since it's self-financed, it's a thing we have to take, and after some spins you're used to the strange drum sound.
It's a shame that a talent and good band like this shall need to finance their own albums, but as always (almost) the labels signs the "wrong" bands, but I'll hope for Season's End that they will be signed with this album released, or else I'll be disappointed.
So, if you want a female-driven Gothic band, with strong and very good written songs, this might be the band you're looking for. Don't hesitate, order you're ex today, remember there is only 1000 copies printed.
Favourite songs: "Touch", "A Ghost in My Emotion" & "Our Sadness" is the part of the album that captured me most.
8.8 out of 10
Malcolm of Metal Storm
http://www.metalstorm.ee
