VISIONS OF ATLANTIS – Ethera
- by Matt Coe
- Posted on 01-03-2013
The fifth full length from Austrian symphonic metal band Visions Of Atlantis, "Ethera" possesses many of the expected elements from this genre. Male/ female vocals, grandiose keyboard parts against softer piano runs, and melodic hooks galore both in the singing and the music. The record contains 11 songs and 48 minutes of outer world splendor, signifying very little to these ears, having been performed better by Nightwish, Within Temptation, or Epica.
When you can predict the entrance of background vocals or lead breaks during "Burden of Divinity", or the dynamic light and dark contrasts for "Machinage", you know that Visions Of Atlantis aren’t generating much new in the symphonic metal game. The ratio of Cris Tian’s guitar power versus Martin Harb’s keyboard layering dips as the album moves forward, which leaves me thinking I’m attending more of a gothic commercial setting than anything remotely ‘metal’.
I’ll stick to the originators and leave this on the curb.
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