Two new articles I wrote were posted at Sonic Cathedral last week. Here are summaries on both pieces.

First is my review of Cardamon’s second album, Sun As Never. This alternative rock/metal band from Utrecht, Netherlands has joined the growing trend of taking a heavier musical approach for the purposes of stronger live performances. For Cardamon, whose debut CD The Primrose Path was critically acclaimed for its melancholy and its balance of electric and acoustic sections, this first step in its evolution is not a surprise. It’s also a fairly shaky one. To find out why, click here to read my review of Cardamon’s Sun As Never.

Next is my interview with the Italian opera singer Laura Macrì. The 21-year-old made her metal debut on MaYaN’s Quarterpast last May and has performed with the band (a symphonic death metal side project of Epica guitarist/grunter Mark Jansen) in The Netherlands and across South America. But, who is this young lady? How did she become part of MaYaN? What are her aspirations for her music (both opera and metal) career? And, will she perform with MaYaN this September at ProgPower? You’ll find out by clicking here to read my interview with Laura!

January is shaping up to be a busy month for me at Sonic Cathedral. Our Best of 2011 article should go online this week. I also have articles “in the pipeline” for The Mariana Hollow, and possibly Beyond the Bridge and Xandria. Stay tuned!

~ Sara

Hope all of you enjoyed your holidays and are looking forward to 2012. I know I am. But before I think too into the future, I’d like to take a look back on the music of 2011. For me, 2011 got off to a slow start but picked up in excitement by summer’s end – and then a slew of great albums came out in early autumn to intrigue me further! So, which 10 albums did I enjoy the most? Most importantly, which one took my top spot?

Note: If you’re friends with me on Facebook, chances are you’ve already seen this list. This version is a little more interactive, however, and also reveals my favorite songs from each album.

Let’s get started with…

#10: Darren Hayes – Secret Codes And Battleships

After 4 years of writing songs he originally intended for other artists, former Savage Garden frontman Darren Hayes returns with his fourth solo album. Secret Codes and Battleships explores the emotional spectrum while gliding across a smooth sea of electro-pop sprinkled with pop/rock, R&B, and alternative influences. If anything, this album is more like Darren’s first solo album, Spin, in terms of its sound, romanticism, and optimism. I miss the darkness and introspection of his other releases (mostly The Tension And The Spark). However, Darren’s voice is still impeccable, and he hasn’t lost his ability to write songs that you swear could be a page from the story of your life. An uplifting, creative effort from one of pop music’s most underrated artists.

Favorite Tracks: “Bloodstained Heart” (see video above), “Black Out The Sun,” “The Siren’s Call”

#9: Adele – 21

I don’t listen to mainstream music as much as I did 10 years ago – but it seems like a lot of people have been talking about Adele’s 21. They have good reason to do so. This collection of love songs, break-up stories, and searing confessions is heart-wrenching to listen to at times. Yet, every song is so well-crafted, and the merging of contemporary attitude with Motown timelessness so effortless, I find myself liking it more every time I play it. Adele’s soulful voice digs to the core of each track, so you get the feeling she’s speaking from experience. The thing is, she is; 21 was written before and during the aftermath of the end of a serious relationship. This reminds me of a saying that goes something like this: “Good things can come out of bad situations.” Consider 21 a very, very good thing. 

Favorite Tracks: “Rolling In The Deep” (see video above), “Rumour Has It,” “Set Fire To The Rain”

#8: Evanescence – Evanescence

I was a huge  skeptic of Evanescence after The Open Door came out. That’s all I’ll say on that, just to keep this paragraph brief. Fast forward to October 2011 – and I bought the band’s self-titled third album just to hear what it sounds like. Well, I was pleasantly surprised by what I heard. Instead of wallowing further in the gothic-symphonic swamp, Evanescence took a more band-oriented approach this time. The result is a dark hard rock album with the essential Evanescence elements (a.k.a. Amy Lee’s soaring wails and lyrical pianowork), an increased guitar presence, and less noticeable orchestrations. Some aspects of Evanescence turn me off (for example, Amy’s lyric style hasn’t matured at all since Fallen). However, I come away from this album thinking that Evanescence has learned how to be a rock band again. That’s the biggest reason why this album surpassed my every expectation for it. (And those expectations were very low.)

Favorite Tracks: “Lost In Paradise,” “What You Want” (see video above), “The Other Side”

#7: 3 – The Ghost You Gave To Me

The New York based prog rock/metal band 3 opened for Within Temptation during their brief North American tour in September. They don’t sound anything like WT – but that didn’t matter, because 3 put on a hell of a show! Raw, impassioned, and uninhibited, with lead singer Joey Eppard rocking it out first on electric guitar and then on acoustic guitar. That’s also how I’d describe 3′s latest album, The Ghost You Gave To Me. It blends radio-friendly melodies, high-energy rhythms, expertly played acoustic segments, and ripping riffs in such a natural way that it’s difficult to not be impressed. Some songs also have influences from different music genres such as disco (“Pretty”), country (“One With The Sun”), pop/rock (“React”), and flamenco (“Only Child”), all while maintaining that imaginative, band-centric style that 3 is known for. And don’t be fooled by Joey’s singing style: His voice may start off as soft and gentle, but he can belt it out, too!

Favorite Tracks: “Numbers” (see video above), “React,” “Only Child,” “Pretty”

#6: EarlyRise – What If

From Israel comes EarlyRise, the brainchild of singer/lyricist Orly Lari and multi-instrumentalist Raz Klinghoffer. Their goal was to combine edgy rock with more poetic aspects of music. The result of that ambition is What If, one of the most diverse albums I’ve ever listened to. Pop, rock, metal, alternative, punk, electronic, acoustic, orchestral, progressive – and most of the songs have elements from multiple subgenres. Yet, somehow EarlyRise blends everything together to create a cohesive, multifaceted, and refreshing sound. Like Joey Eppard of 3, Orly has a deceptive presence in EarlyRise. Her sweet, childlike voice can reach astounding heights. And in her lyrics, Orly bares her emotions – even anger and frustration – with a sense of maturity while never taking herself too seriously. If you like what I’ve told you thus far, head over to EarlyRise’s website to download four free tracks from What If. They may just convince you to buy the rest of the album.

Favorite Tracks: “Become Mad” (see video above), “What If,” “Over”

#5: Omega Lithium – Kinetik

I almost didn’t check out Kinetik when it was released this summer.  Omega Lithium’s 2008 debut album, Dreams in Formuline, was… not something I cared to replay after the first listen. That’s not the case with Kinetik, though. This is a much more interesting and consistent record, with a more evenly balanced mix. I also like how Omega Lithium explores every corner of the industrial metal / electro-rock realm. Kinetik is packed with club-ready beats, Mya Mortensen’s low and smooth voice, layers of synths, and guitarwork that varies from deep chugging to lighter chords. Not to mention the lyrics tackles a wide range of subjects, from partying and lust, to introspection and religion. It seems like Omega Lithium has learned how to balance having fun with making a statement, and they do so quite well on Kinetik.

Favorite Tracks: “Colossus” (see video above), “Time Of Change,” “I Am God,” “Dance With Me”

#4: Intemperia – The Mothman Prophecies

I listen to a lot of international bands because of my work with Sonic Cathedral. However, Intemperia is the first artist ever from Venezuela in my iTunes library, and one I’ll be listening to for a while. Their debut album, The Mothman Prophecies, is a delightful collection of melodic metal with hints of pop, power metal, and electronica. Every instrument on this album exudes confidence and energy – not energy for metal’s sake, but a kind of earnestness you only get when the creators are passionate about their product. The band also shines thanks to solid songwriting, memorable melodies, and Juls Sosa’s fierce vocals. What I enjoy most about Intemperia’s sound, though, is that it’s original. The band has been influenced by Nightwish, Lacuna Coil, Sonata Arctica, and a host of other well-known metal acts. Yet, I can’t compare Intemperia to those bands because… well, Intemperia doesn’t sound a lot like them. Instead, they’ve crafted a unique style that is bound to captivate fans around the world.

Favorite Tracks: “Chains Of Gold” (see video above), “No Hopes,” “Vulture,” “I Hold On To You”

#3: Autumn – Cold Comfort

I love just about every album Autumn has released to date, even their gothic doom metal bewitcher Summer’s End. That came out in 2004, and Autumn’s music has evolved drastically since then. Cold Comfort, the band’s fifth album, takes a turn toward down-tempo, atmospheric alt-prog metal. While I wouldn’t consider this to be their strongest album (that would go to either My New Time or Altitude), it’s certainly their best-sounding one. The band put such great care into shaping the mood and ambiance of each song without making anything sound forced. Lead singer Marjan Welman thrives on Cold Comfort, too; the more melodic direction suits her warm, harmonious voice so well. The biggest reason for this album ranking so high on my list, however, is one single song: “The Venamoured.” I love its chasm-like ambiance and its long, sinister instrumental ending that sends shivers down my spine. It’s hands down my favorite song from a 2011 release.

Favorite Tracks: “The Venamoured” (see video above), “End Of Sorrow,” “Cold Comfort,” “Black Stars In A Blue Sky”

#2: Divine Ascension – As The Truth Appears

If you like female-fronted symphonic or progressive metal and have not checked out Divine Ascension yet, you need to do that – right now! This sextet from Melbourne, Australia blends the dynamics and guitar foundations of progressive metal with the band’s love for movie soundtracks to create a thrilling, majestic sound that focuses more on the band’s talents than on orchestral bombast. And, the voice of singer Jennifer Borg is powerful and emotive thanks to her time in theater and cabaret. (No operatics to speak of here!) What I love about As The Truth Appears is its overall sound and execution. The guitarwork is varied and full of great techniques, and tiny details in the orchestral arrangements peak through the metal music bed. Every time I listen to As The Truth Appears, I get excited about what I currently hear and what Divine Ascension could do later with their music. It makes me root for them even more! Easily my favorite debut album of 2011.

Favorite Tracks: “Answers” (see video above), “Another Battlefield,” “Garden Of Evil,” “In My Mind”

I honestly toyed with placing Divine Ascension as my #1 of 2011. But, in the end, I had to go with…

#1: Within Temptation – The Unforgiving

No surprise! After all, the symphonic rock band Within Temptation is one of my absolute favorites. However, this is the first time I’d ever consider one of their CDs as my favorite of any year. (My favorite album of 2007, when WT’s previous album The Heart of Everything was released, was After Forever’s self-titled final album.) However, on my very first go-round with The Unforgiving¸ two thoughts crossed my mind. The first one: “Wow! This album makes me feel so… happy!” And, the second one: “I think this might be WT’s best album yet!” I do agree that the music on The Unforgiving is more commercial than anything Within Temptation has done before. However, this album contains the band’s strongest songwriting, lyrics, and melodies, as well as Sharon den Adel’s most varied and moving vocals to date; and it’s devoid of all of the shortcomings of WT’s past albums. And, interviewing Sharon for Sonic Cathedral and going to Within Temptation’s Worcester show in September has made The Unforgiving all the more special on a personal level. So, in the end, I couldn’t imagine putting any other CD at the top of my 2011 list.

Favorite Tracks: “Faster” (starts at 3:22 in above video), “In The Middle Of The Night,” “Where Is The Edge,” “Sinead”

Honorable Mentions:

• Losing Scarlet – Learning to Bleed
• Ultimate Fate – Beyond the Horizon (EP)
• Ex Libris – Medea (Promo EP)
• Stream of Passion – Darker Days

Favorite Albums Released in Previous Years:

• Anathema – We’re Here Because We’re Here
• Triosphere – The Road Less Travelled
• Die So Fluid – The World Is Too Big For One Lifetime
• Ayreon – The Human Equation
•  Colbie Caillat – Breakthrough

My latest review at Suite 101.com tackles the self-titled third album by the biggest name in female-fronted rock music: Evanescence. It turns out that a five-year hiatus and a more collaborative songwriting process has encouraged the band to steer their music in a (slightly) new direction. The result is Evanescence, a less bombastic and more straight-up rock record than Evanescence’s previous album, The Open Door. However, does this change work in Evanescence’s favor?

Click here to read my review of Evanescence’s self-titled album.

Let me know what you think!

~ Sara

As I had mentioned during a recent post, I was a surprise caller during Avariel’s appearance on Citywide Blackout on Saturday, November 19. An audio archive of the show is now available on the Citywide Blackout blog.

Click here to listen to Citywide Blackout’s audio archive of their 11/19/2011 show.

Avariel is on during the show’s first hour. The host interviews the band and plays a number of songs from Avariel’s debut album, The Dawn. My phone call comes in around the 44-minute mark.

Enjoy!

~ Sara

Since I’ll be busy the next couple days, I wanted to post this for you as soon as possible. My latest article for Sonic Cathedral was posted today – and it’s another Sneak Peek! Perhaps you’ll remember that in March I wrote an article on an exclusive preview of an album-in-progress by the UK band The Mariana Hollow. Today’s article is similar; and this time, I’m highlighting Medea, the upcoming second album by the Dutch progressive metal band Ex Libris.

If you love female-fronted metal and have never heard of Ex Libris, you’re missing out on something special.  This band takes their loves of heavy and progressive metal styles, and combines them with classical arrangements and the dynamic soprano voice of Dianna van Giersbergen.  Think of mixing Symphony X, Seventh Wonder, Blind Guardian, and Opeth, then topping it off with a vocalist who can shake the very boots of Simone Simons (Epica), Tarja Turunen (ex-Nightwish), and Floor Jansen (After Forever, ReVamp). Their music is so unique and creative, that comparing Ex Libris to other symphonic metal bands or bands with a classically trained singer just doesn’t do the band justice.

As for Medea, well, I can only talk about the three songs I’ve gotten to know very well over the past few weeks. Without giving away much here: I’m intrigued by what I’ve heard so far, and I believe Medea will be one of the most innovative “femme metal” albums in a long while!

Click here to read my Sneak Peek of Ex Libris’ Medea.

~ Sara

I’ve finally posted more poems on the “My Poetry” page. (Click here to visit “My Poetry,” or click on “My Poetry” in sidebar menu.) Although these pieces may be new to some of you, they were published in an anthology almost 2 years ago. But, better late than never, right?

The four pieces are:

• “An Unexpected Life Lesson on a Busy Street”
• “Lifeblood”
• “Respite”
• “Solstice”

Hope you enjoy them! Feel free to comment on the poems by responding to this post.

Also, not sure if anyone was listening to this week’s edition of Citywide Blackout with Max Bowen on Unregular Radio… But, I was the Sara who called in during the first hour to talk to Max and his guest at that time: the Boston symphonic metal band – and my personal friends – Avariel! Fun times! And such a great opportunity for Avariel to give their music some more well-deserved exposure. If you like female-fronted symphonic metal with dashes of progressive, gothic, and death metal styles, I think you’d like this band. Check out Avariel now at Myspace, Facebook, and ReverbNation.

That’s all for now! Next time, I should have a new article online at Sonic Cathedral.

~ Sara

As I had promised, I’ve launched a new poll here at my site. I decided to do a more general topic about literature and reading. The question is, “What kinds of literature do you like the most?”

Select as many answers as you’d like. And if I missed one of your favorite genres, feel free to add it in the “Other” textbox.

Have fun!

~ Sara

Once again, it’s been a while since my last site update. But, I hope this one will be worth it. First of all, maybe you noticed that my site looks a little different… And you’re correct! I hope you like the new theme, “Dusk to Dawn.” It’s similar to the previous theme I’d been using, but a little darker in color. Let me know what you think by commenting on this post.

And now, here’s a quick summary of all my Sonic Cathedral activity since my last post.

For interviews (click here to go to the Interviews page):

• My latest interview is with American-born singer/songwriter Amanda Somerville, who has just released her first metal album under the stage name of Trillium. Maybe you might know Amanda for her choir and backing vocal work with metal bands such as Avantasia, Kamelot, and Epica – or maybe you know Amanda from her pop/rock solo work. Either way, Trillium’s debut album, Alloy, marks a new and exciting era for Amanda. This interview shows not only how thrilled and passionate Amanda is about her work, but also how incredibly funny she is!
• In October, I talked to one of the most promising symphonic metal bands I’ve heard all year: Divine Ascension, out of Melbourne, Australia. This band mixes their love of movie soundtracks with progressive and power metal influences. The result is DA’s debut album, As The Truth Appears. Guitarist Rob Inglis and singer Jennifer Borg discussed the making of this album, as well as the band’s origins, their music video for “Answers,” and how the band almost went for a male singer instead of a female.
• Also in October, I interviewed two members of the Swedish symphonic metal band Ultimate Fate. Singer Jennie Nord and drummer/grunter Ola Olsson spoke at length about their recently released EP, Beyond the Horizon, as well as their band’s unique blend of classic heavy metal and symphonic influences. They also commented on their experience as one of many bands in the famous – and crowded – Gothenburg metal scene.

And for CD reviews (click here to go to the 2011 CD Reviews page):

• Autumn’s Cold Comfort, which sees the Dutch alternative metal band taking a more progressive and melodic turn in their music. Not everyone will love this next phase of Autumn’s evolution, but I consider Cold Comfort to be the band’s “richest and most intelligent album to date.”
• Divine Ascension’s As The Truth Appears, which (as I implied earlier) is one of my favorite symphonic metal albums this year. DA takes the guitar-driven approach of power and progressive metal, complements it with symphonic arrangements, and lets a singer with a musical theater background take the reins. Perhaps it’s no surprised that I said, “[P]eople should – and will – talk about the Australian band that’s a new rival to Epica, Nighwish, Within Temptation, and other symphonic heavyweights.”
• Losing Scarlet’s Learning to Bleed, one of the heaviest albums I’ve ever reviewed. Imagine Five Finger Death Punch or Bullet For My Valentine, but with a firecracker of a female singer. It’s in-your-face, rebellious, even a little violent (musically speaking). That’s why I said this album is”… a far cry from the complex and sweeping styles you’ll hear from European bands – but Losing Scarlet is an American band, playing distinctly American metal music. And, they play it with balls and fire.”

That’s about it for now. I do have plans to update the Poetry section soon, as well as an idea for a new poll. So, stay tuned!

~ Sara

EDIT – 11/14/2011: Somehow I forgot to enable my comments when I posted this last night. Now you should be able to respond to this post. Sorry about that!

My latest CD review was posted at Suite101 tonight! One of my favorite mainstream artists is acoustic pop singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat, and the review is on her latest album All Of You. In some ways, All Of You isn’t much different than Colbie’s two previous studio albums (2007′s Coco and 2009′s Breakthrough). It’s still mellow, optimistic, romantic in a youthful way, and reminiscent of summer days  on the beach. However, Colbie starts to play with her sound on All Of You. How does she fair with this next step in her musical evolution? Well, if I told you that here, that would ruin all the fun, wouldn’t it?

Click here to read my review of “All Of You.”

As I had promised, I’ve finally made a number of updates to my site. These changes reflect the work I’ve done over the past several months as well as the new websites I’ve become involved with this year. Here is a list of what’s new:

• New information has been added to the About Me page of this site.
• A number of CD reviews have been added to the CD Reviews – 2011 page. Since March, I’ve written reviews on recent releases by My Inner Burning (modern metal from Germany), Within Temptation (if you’ve visited this page before, you should know who this band is!), Triosphere (melodic prog/heavy metal from Norway), One Without (alt/death metal from Sweden), Regardless of Me (progressive industrial death metal from Italy), Ultimate Fate (symphonic metal from Sweden), Stream of Passion (prog/symphonic metal from The Netherlands), and Die So Fluid (dark hard rock).
• Five interviews have been added to the Interviews page: Stream of Passion, One Without, Regardless of Me, Intemperia (melodic “power” hard rock from Venezuela), and my first-ever in-person interview – with none other than Sharon den Adel of Within Temptation!

And coming soon will be a long-awaited update on my great-great-aunt’s memoir, which I finished this past Christmas!

In other news, I have temporarily put my fantasy series on hold. It’s sad to admit, as I love that story and don’t want to give up on it. But right now, I just don’t have the time or desire to devote myself to the story. It’s as if all my inspiration for it has been drained out of me. Hopefully it will return, and I can either pick up where I left off or start anew on a different draft. I’ve also had other story ideas floating around… but none of them have manifested themselves well enough for me to feel comfortable with starting the writing process.  But, as most writers or creative people know, you have to do whatever comes most easily to you at the moment. And right now, that is my CD reviews.

Thanks for continuing to come around despite my (accidental) neglect of this site! Now that things have slowed down in my offline life, hopefully I’ll have more time to keep you more up-to-date on things.

~ Sara