Serenity
Death & Legacy
Rating
Style: Symphonic Metal
Release date: 25 February, 2011
Playing time: 67:15
 

From Austria we all know Edenbridge of course, but Serenity will surely get more popular in the near future as well. The band with singer Georg Neuhauser and guitar player Thomas Buchberger delivers a very good symphonic metal album. With historical lyrics about characters of amongst others Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus and Queen Elisabeth I, they wrote some very orchestral and melodic guitar oriented songs. But let us not forget the performance of keyboarder Mario Hirzinger either. With his parts he makes the songs sometimes sound like movie soundtracks.

Oliver Philipps took care of the orchestra production and the mix was done by Jan Vacik. They have delivered an album with a bombastic and top of the bill sound. Add the very good vocals of Georg and the help of some female singers with which he sings some duals and the water will run from your mouth. Charlotte Wessels (Delain), Ailyn (Sirenia) and Amanda Somerville (Aina) helped the band out with that. Perhaps a lot will say that the band doesn't do anything new and surprisingly and that's correct, but it doesn't make the music less strong and good.

If you like bands like Kamelot, Avantasia, Edenbridge and are not afraid of some gothic influences and orchestral arrangements, this is an excellent album for you to start this year.

My personal listening tip: "When Canvas Starts to Burn".


Tracklist

01. Set Sail to (Intro)
02. New Horizons
03. The Chevalier
04. Far From Home
05. Heavenly Mission
06. Prayer (interlude)
07. State of Siege
08. Changing Fate
09. When Canvas Starts to Burn
10. Serenade of Flames
11. Youngest of Widows                                     12. Below Eastern Skies (interlude)                     13. Beyond Desert Sands                                   14. To India's Shore                                          15. Lament (interlude)                                       16. My Legacy

Label: Napalm Records
Distribution: Target (Denmark)
Reviewed by: Reinier de Vries
Date: 1 March, 2011
Website: www.myspace.com/serenitybandtyrol