Song of the Week: WarCry - Espíritu de Amor

Yes, its a Spanish song, by a Spanish metal band. But its not just any Spanish metal band, its one of Spain's premier power metal bands, who have collected numerous accolades throughout their career from Radial Awards, Rockferendum, MetalZone etc, ranging from best keyboardist and guitarist and vocalist to best album and even best website (oO?). Its state of existence fluctuated during its initial years and it wasn't until 2001 that WarCry became a full-time band, fronted by Víctor García. Since then, its line-up has gone under constant change, with the exception of García, but its quality remains top class and it has quickly risen to fame first in Spain and then across Latin America.

"Espíritu de Amor" is from their 2004 album, Alea Jacta Est, and it means "spirit of love". Its an intricate piece of work, befitting the band's genre of power metal. Everything from the twin guitar riffs to the powerful keyboards solo to García's gravelly voice gives the song a simultaneously complex and simple beauty. And at the centre of this paradox is the lyrics itself, a sad poetic declaration of love for someone who has passed on that is delivered in a soaring energetic fashion. There is passion in its creation, with some sort of certainty that love transcends life or death. Even if you didn't know a single bit of español, I bet you can still feel all that emotion from the music itself.

Perhaps its not such a conventional song for making confessions of love, but it takes a different kind of appreciation perhaps. In that whirlwind of power metal melodies, with 5 instruments and a single voice playing out their separate roles to form a complicated song, there is just that simple meaning of wanting to be with the one you love. And experiencing the same loss of life within yourself when you lose your other half. Porque tu dolor es mi dolor.

No matter how difficult things can get, how messed up everything is, there can be meanings that shine steadfastly through all others, always strong, just like the quality of WarCry. For all those who are in el espíritu de amor, this is for you *winks*:

Song Of The Week: Emmure - False Love In Real Life

As my girlfriend always likes to proclaim, "Hmpf!". That, would be the reaction of most people towards Deathcore.

As I have previously mentioned, Deathcore is a very avant-garde genre that probably took root and nourished into a full-blown genre today in the underground scene, probably thanks to American hardcore bands learning death metal and then screwing around with it. Well, that's the essence of making music anyway, constantly experimenting and pushing the boundaries to create something new, or else there would really be no point listening to music ever again if everyone is gonna sound like R&B from the start to the end of their careers.

Emmure is a somewhat okay deathcore band, that has recently shown some promise on this single off of their second album, "The Respect Issue" released last year. Some basic information about them: They hail from Connecticut, USA, and formed in 2003. When I first listened to them on their first album, "Goodbye To The Gallows", I immediately thought of demons from hell feasting on half-alive humans, screaming for their lives. That's because, the vocalist, Frankie, really just screams his way through every song you can think of. I was thinking, if that was the way it is, I probably would not really like Emmure, 'cos sure, they are brutal and heavy and all, but there wasn't really much adrenaline-pumping moments to talk about when trembling to their songs (their bass and drums are very overpowering, and worse still, deliberately slow and dreadful at the start of most of their songs).

Ee-mew-er is - Frankie Palmeri - Vocals, Mark Davis - Bass, Mike Mullohand - Guitar, Michael Cobb - Drums, Jesse Ketive - Guitar

But this song changed it all. I actually like this song by them, and oh yeah, did I mention they are the only deathcore band I've heard so far that makes use of growls, screams, and clean vocals? I am not sure if The Acacia Strain does this, 'cos many people have been comparing Emmure to them and I have not heard any of their songs yet, but one thing is for sure, if you actually hear many people talking about a hardcore/deathcore, chances are that band is G-O-O-D. Not many bands manage to make songs that are intense yet fun to listen to.

By the way, Frankie's face in this music video is hilarious, it almost broke my smile into a laugh when I first saw it. The bass guitar part in this song is worth mentioning too, because it just plays mainly one tone throughout the entire song yet adds that foreboding and mean feel to the song. The way the bassist plays it is cool too, with his fingers fluttering and barely touching the strings at all. Check it out in the video above.

Yes, this song is playing on my speakers again while I'm ending off this week's post. Perfect for pumping yourself up before starting on some intensely boring studying again.

Emmure's 3rd album, "Felony", is set to be released on 18th August this year. Watch out for it and anticipate more headbanging to come your way, and perhaps, some funny album artwork again.

Angtoria: God Has a Plan for Us All

Year released: 2006
Label: Listenable Records
Official website: http://www.angtoria.com

Tracks:

1. The Awakening [1:31]

2. I'm Calling [4:57]

3. God Has a Plan for Us All [4:33]

4. Suicide on My Mind [4:15]

5. Deity of Disgust [4:59]

6. The Addiction [3:27]

7. Six Feet Under's Not Deep Enough [3:51]

8. Do You See Me Now? [4:25]

9. Original Sin (The Devil's Waiting in the Wing) [3:38]

10. Hell Hath No Fury Like a Woman Scorned [4:43]

11. Confide in Me (Kylie Minogue cover) [4:14]

12. That's What the Wise Lady Said [4:31]
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I just finished this album last night, and I thought hmm.. this has to be up on Zetalambmary. Angtoria's debut and only album to date, God Has a Plan for Us All, released in 2006. Though if you listened to the songs, you'd realise its not a really nice plan probably. Fronted by Sarah Jezebel Deva (her real name's Sarah Jane Ferridge, you'd think she'd have picked a stage name that's shorter than her real one ain't it..), widely known as the backing vocalist for Cradle of Filth when they're on tour, she first met Chris Rehn in 2001 and along with his brother Tommy, they formed Angtoria.

They're musically impressive. Unlike most of their peers who feature female soprano singers and overall less exuberant music, Angtoria brings out the Metal in symphonic metal. The guitars are very prominent, the keyboards play supporting actor in this gig and the drumming is plenty aggressive. Yet through it all, they don't lose that symphonic and gothic flavour. And Sarah's voice, for someone who is, to quote Shadori's words, somewhat horizontally inclined, is surprisingly alluring in its femininity and yet simultaneously strong and soaring. From ballads like "The Addiction" to more aggressive tracks like "Original Sin", you quickly get struck in the quality of her voice. Overall, both the music and the voice are very well done and they come together to make really wonderful songs, particularly in moments such as the chorus of "Hell Hath No Fury Like a Woman Scorned" where they feel just perfect together and raise you to musical nirvana. Some harsh vocals provided by guests musicians have also been masterfully included.

So, drawbacks? Well you've seen the album cover, it isn't hard to guess what the lyrical theme for the whole album is about. Some songs, like the perversely titled "God Has a Plan for Us All" is so blatantly obvious that you'd almost squirm to hear the words sung out. I dunno 'bout y'all, but I keep wondering how popular an album filled with songs about rape, child sexual abuse and suicide can possibly be, even in the metal community. I know, there are black metal bands that promote even more creepy arcane stuff (anybody know Dissection? Or Soulreaper?) and gory images are prevalent everywhere in metal songs, but this kinda crosses over the line doesn't it. And its not like they do it gently, with a touch of surreality. Its as hard-on in your face as their musical style: largely blunt, with traces of intricacy. For the music, it works, its great. For the lyrics, I'm not so sure.

Dave Pybus (bass), Chris Rehn (guitars), Sarah Jezebel Deva (vocals), Tommy Rehn (guitars), John Henriksson (drums)

Alright no matter what, the quality of the musicianship displayed in this album cannot be denied. Angtoria doesn't just walk a fine line between mainstream listener-friendly and the raw energy and aggression of metal. They walk it with grace and style. As long as you're not opposed to listening to something that's slightly more straining on the ears than rock, no matter whether you're a metalhead or not, you're gonna be awed. Yeah, just don't pay too much attention to the lyrics huh.

Below is the official video for their title track, "God Has a Plan for Us All". Not the ideal song that I would have wanted our readers to try, but apparently its the only video Angtoria made, and I've seen the fan-made ones... Just don't strain yourself trying to hear what she's singing and it'll be fine, the song's still good, trust me.

Verdict: 8.9/10