On disc: Visions Of Atlantis

 
 Cast Away
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Trinity
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Delta
 
- Mike Thompson -
 
 


 
 Maria Magdalena
 
- Lars Bjørn -
 
 

Maria Magdalena

(Napalm Records - 2011)



 
 

 

A mini album has now been released from the symphonic Austrian band who has specialized in high quality orchestral symphonic metal that touches power metal when they feel like it. In their 10 years of existence they have maneuvered with female singers, and now there is a new one, Maxi Nil who do sublime duets with Mario Plank. This arrangements works extremely well, a magnificent strength is hidden in their work, six songs where Beyond Horizon and Last Shut Of Your Eyes are re-recordings from their earlier records. But it is not a shame to get Beyond Horizon again, a very melodic symphonic epos that tells the story of sublime songwriting. Maria Magdalena is a classic theme, and Visions Of Atlantis give it a bombastic and heavy workout to make a splendid vision of a timeless description of Maria Magdalenas history. Distant Shores makes the deep quality ballad that is sharp and soft at the same time. Change Of Tides is more of the symphonic heavy metal that really is the trademark of Visions Of Atlantis, super great song. Last Shut Of Your Eyes is powerful and still a good and soft ballad and very listenable. Melancholia is also way beyond the standard level with symphonic metal precisely in their own way of creating their songs. Maxi Nil gives a good contribution to the band, and it seems a good choice as she finds the rhythm and soul of the band perfectly.

 
 










Lars Bjørn


  
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Delta

(Napalm Records - 2011)



 
 

 

Delta is the fourth full-length album from this Austrian symphonic metal sextet and continues the bands foray into powerful, orchestral metal that they started in earnest on the previous album, 2007's Trinity.

The biggest change in the Visions camp was the departure of the extremely talented Melissa Ferlaak, who has been replaced by new siren Maxi Nil, whom some may know as the former singer of Elysion and also from her live work with Moonspell during 2008-9. Nil's voice is quite different to Ferlaak's with less of an operatic approach, but the new singer fits perfectly with the music and provides a great counter to the male vocals of Mario Plank, who is a clean singer allowing the band to avoid the generic 'beauty and the beast' pitfall of many of their contemporaries. Maxi Nils' vocal ability is beyond question and her passionate voice fits comfortably into the epic music crafted by the band without diverting attention away from it.

Trinity is the only Visions Of Atlantis album I am familiar with and although it was a well crafted album I must admit I don't consider it a shining example of the symphonic metal sub genre. The band's influences were very easy to spot with huge nods to the genre heavyweights such as Nightwish, Edenbridge and especially Epica and this really made it just another female-fronted symphonic metal album. Good but unoriginal and nothing special. Much of the previous album was also pervaded with an incredibly melancholy feel which is something I really only appreciate in very small doses and this usually made me choose to play something different instead.

I'm happy to report that on Delta the band has achieved something far more memorable. The songs still have a heavy hint of Epica et all but its clear that Visions Of Atlantis have matured and become far more adept at crafting epic and original sounding songs. Many of the songs are also more upbeat, although the music is awash with many different emotions.

There are many songs on this album that will stick in your mind long after it has finished. Amongst these are the opener Black River Delta and my personal favorite Conquest Of Others which is a truly fantastic headbanger and shows Plank's voice at its most brutal!

This is a great album by Visions Of Atlantis that all genre fans should check out! After listening to this I'm really looking forward to seeing them support Leaves' Eyes later this year! Awesome.

 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Trinity

(Napalm Records - 2007)



 
 

 

The album of Austrian-American band starts of with At The Back Of Beyond and shows them with their new singer Melissa Ferlaak. The first track shows them close to Nightwish as Melissa is a trained singer and sings mainly in the operatic style. A nice addition it the male vocal part by Mario Plank. On their last album Cast Away the balance between the instruments and the vocals was partly not leveled and it sounded more like recording during pre-production... This time with Visions Of Atlantis recorded with Jan Vacik and the mix was done at Finnvox Studios, so there is nothing to complain sound-wise this time. At The Secret Mario get a bit more space which is good, but unfortunately the main focus is still on Melissa's part. The song is guitar-driven and the keyboard is supporting guitarist Wolfgang. I think Nightwish fans will really like Melissa Ferlaak's vocals, but personally I think that the parts where she isn't singing opera style are stronger... They slow down a bit with The Poem where Mario Plank starts off this balladesque tune. And he shows emotions! When they get a bit heavier for the chorus Melissa Ferlaak is kinda backing up his vocals and just later she adds some lines. Seems like they should give Mario more space in general, even if here Melissa has to step back a bit, but there for her vocal parts are getting more intense. With Nothing Left they kinda follow the chosen path, but when they both sing together I find the opera vocals annoying - while at counter parts it works fine. A powerful tune is My Dark Side Home. Less bombastic... More rock... and here Melissa sings more rock style when she teams up with Mario and the song is the strongest on so far! Balladesqe and with piano starts Return To You is where Miss Ferlaak can show more of her talent, but again I think that the songs would be stronger, if they wouldn't use operatic vocals. And on the other hand it seems that this genre is limiting her... One of the best songs on Trinity is Through My Eyes which is a real heavy rock with some bombastic sounds and Mario Plank is back on the mic. The refrain is catchy and easily hooks you up with this one. Last, but not least Seven Seas starts slowly, but soon becomes a heavy symphonic rocker. And actually here the balance between Mario's and Melissa's vocals is leveled and they can get a bit more way from the Nightwish sound. If they can wrote more songs like this for the next release then they have a chance to step out of the shadows!

With Passing Dead End they start developing their own sound, but it seems to me that Miss Ferlaak is holding back when not singing operatic... In my opinion Visions Of Atlantis should try to get away from the Nightwish sound... Perhaps they should try to go more into the direction of The Poem, My Dark Side Home, Seven Seas and Through My Eyes.
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Cast Away

(Napalm Records - 2004)



 
 

 

Cast Away is the 2nd album - their debut's called Eternal Endless Infinity - of the Austrian sextet and soundwise there are many similarities to Nightwish. Some might just call them clones... Well, not that far fetched. Singer Nicole tries to sound like Tarja Turunen, but it's just an attemp! To me it seems that she hasn't the classical vocal training Tarja has... And so she don't have the powerful voice. Her male counterpart is more sounding like a rock singer, no grunts and growls. Actually I prefer this, but Mario has to add some emotions... And power. Unfortunately the production is weak and most songs are at the same speed. A little more variety would have made it more interesting to listen to. With Winternight they have a ballade to offer. Here it's most obvious that Nicole had to train her voice, if she wants to continue doing this kind of music. Sometimes I think that she wants to sing soprano, but would be better be trained to sing mezzo soprano... But I'm not a vocal coach... It's just my impression. State Of Suspence has a more eletronic sound and is heavier, faster then the other tracks. But still the keyboard sound is annoying - to me. No offence, guys! Here the band uses a narrator to add a new element. The narrator is Alex Krull of Atrocity. One of the most interesting songs on the album. While the following track Lemuria give me mixed feelings... A little to much bombast pop, but at the same time this song has potential...

The track Realm Of Fantasy has the potential to be a real symphonic metal hymn, but therefore they have to overdo it. Not enough power and the keyboard sound is not bombastic enough. The guitars have to be more upfront.... That's the main problem of the Austrians. This is more like recorded at pre-production... Okay, for a demo, but with a good producer this should have turned out way better... The mastering was done at the famous Sterling Sound studios in New York, but if the production is weak they can't fix it. As I don't know their debut, I can't say, if they have improved. I can just recommend the band to get a good producer next time who can help them to improve and give their ideas the final touch.
To get an idea you should listen to Cast Away, Realm Of Fantasy and State Of Suspence.
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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