Siren's Cry - Scattered Horizons (2013) [Gorgatz]

Siren's Cry - Scattered Horizons (2013) [Gorgatz]



INFO:

The roots of Austria's Siren's Cry begin with vocalist Katie Joanne's significant classical training in voice and piano. Later she would pick up a guitar and play Metallica covers in a school band. This led to her to devour progressive metal from the likes of Symphony X, Dream Theater. This, in turn, inspired Katie to write her own music with a vision of combining the classical with metal. Gathering with guitarist Philip Porter the musical ideas flowed, other band members were secured, and Siren's Cry was born.

Scattered Horizons is their first full-length album, entirely self-produced by the band. Without intending to be dismissive, the band and this album basic melodic metal, with symphonic and power metal elements, some prog notes, with a gal at the microphone. The prog nuances aren't that technical, certainly nothing like math metal, but more on the leaner side of Dream Theater.

From the start you're present with some rather standard female-fronted symphonic power metal with, skipping the intro, S3V3n and Oratory & Sins. Not bad songs at all, just straight forward in their approach. Serpents of War pushes the power metal button once more, both speedy and symphonic capturing Katie Joanne's vision of combining metal with classical.

Interest is gained with Elegy of R'lyeh where you get your first taste of prog, notably the light jazzy breakdown about three quarters in. Better for the prog side is Sahara Sagas Part One (there is not part two on the album) with it's obvious middle eastern tone, and Katie Joanne using her vocal arrangement as significant prog element. However, A Controversial Mind, is likely best example of progressive metal with its variety of tempos, and shifts between the sublime and extravagant.

Besides Katie's obvious talent, significant regard should be given to Porter's strong classic metal guitar work and Michael A. Siskov's bright and lively piano and synth additions. All in all, Scattered Horizons is solid start for the band, and better when the back off the straight power metal and dive into more progressive metal. The next album should be interesting. Recommended.

"Scattered Horizons" is the closest thing to a female-fronted Symphony X that the world will ever see—I don't think a sex change is on Russell Allen's to-do list. The album was penned by an Austrian group calling itself Siren's Cry, and they show a magical amount of coherent songwriting and surprising instrumental performances throughout what is their first full-length effort. Stylistically, Siren's Cry takes copious amounts of influence from early Symphony X (think "The Divine Wings of Tragedy" through "V") and some fellow Austrian exports such as Edenbridge, obviously including dazzling guitar work, elegant keyboards, and other authentic qualities of the progressive power metal regime. Fronted by one Katarina Bilak, "Scattered Horizons" makes the grass a little greener, the wings of tragedy a bit more divine.
Bilak fronts the group excellently, though her tone and performance require some conditioning on the listener's end; this genre has much more Russell Allen-esque types and the like, so having Bilak rule the vocal realm might throw off some folks at first. However, she fits Siren's Cry's host of traits and techniques wonderfully, especially during the schizophrenic "A Controversial Mind," in which she flies all over the place and kicks a whole lot of rumps in the process. Many of the anthems are quite memorable and hooking, with several boasting stellar choruses, complicated guitar/keyboard leads that are done with care and precision, and noteworthy performances from the rhythm section as well. "Cold Amber & Scalding Tears," the ballad, is surprisingly decent, like most of the release; no track manages to misfire.

And yes, they occasionally come off as a little too dependent on the structures of Symphony X, because they, you know, sound like Symphony X. The main riff from "Oratory & Sins," for example, is almost the same central guitar sequence of "Of Sins and Shadows," and Siren's Cry generally moves around like its primary influence. Well, I guess it's nice that I've been arrested at least four times for stalking Symphony X, otherwise I'd find it a little annoying. However, minor irritations like the unoriginal guitar work are few and far between; Siren's Cry proves itself to be a very unique and imaginary bunch. Tracks like "Elegy of R'lyeh" and its smooth jazz section are superb cuts of progressive metal at its finest, while explosive numbers such as "Serpents of War" and "Draconian Spectrum" display rapid themes and intensity kicked up a notch or two, clearly more in line with the power metal side of the coin.

Other than the minor idiosyncrasies that the folks of Siren's Cry can call their own, a grand portion of the work within "Scattered Horizons" is somewhat of a special, unexpected treat for folks intrigued by the progressive power metal style that has been mastered by Symphony X and reproduced by many others. "Scattered Horizons" captures the grandiose themes and perplexing musical aspects of the identity without sacrificing admirable songwriting in the process, and Siren's Cry shows an ample amount of persistence and maturity at album one. I'm not calling this a masterpiece to acquire immediately, but it's worth a shot if you enjoy Symphony X. Nicely done.

T R A C K L I S T :

01. Introitus (1:39)
02. S3V3N (6:37)
03. Oratory & Sins (5:06)
04. Elegy of R'lyeh (7:37)
05. Draconian Spectrum (5:45)
06. Cold Amber & Scalding Tears (3:49)
07. Sahara Sagas Pt. I I: Overture Sands of Time II: Beyond the Veil III: The Unravelling IV: Shahryr - The Great King V: Astray (9:35)
08. Serpents of War (4:41)
09. Controversial Mind (8:57)

Bitrate: 320 k
Genre: Power
Subgenre: Symphonic / Progressive Power Metal
Size: 123.94 MB

Credit Goes To LaVey Of Rockbox