Sleeping Romance

Album Title: 
Enlighten
Release Date: 
Friday, November 15, 2013
Distribution: 
Review Type: 

This Italian Symphonic Metal act from the town of Modena was originally founded in 2009 under the monicker of Hybrid Resolution, when guitarist/ keyboardist Federico Truzzi (formerly of Nothing Else and Mechanical Swan) joined forces with singer Monica Auditore and his Synthphonia Suprema bandmates Lorenzo Costi (bassist; also of Fogalord, and of State Of Mind) and Zana (drums; also of Fogalord).

This foursome first wrote some songs, and almost immediately tested them in live conditions on the local scene. A self-titled 5-track demo was released in 2011, and after that some line-up changes occurred in 2012 through the induction of second guitarist Bouna (also of Fogalord and Synthphonia Suprema) and the replacement of the singer by one Federica Lanna. In 2013 this line-up recorded the current album [recordings done by Truzzi at Lemohead Studio, mastering by Roberto Priori (known from previous collaborations with Los Angeles, Danger Zone, Vision Divine, etc...], changed their name to the current one, and subsequently signed their deal with Swedish label Ulterium Records for the release of the album.

Evidently, this put the band on a higher level, and in November the band was out on the road throughout Europe, promoting their album as support slot on a short tour with US act Theocracy.

The album is a perfect example of what Symphonic Metal stand for. On top of the orchestral keyboard lines, you'll also not only find great guitar riffs and lead/ solo parts, but also a very fine female singer, and listening to the track “The Promise Inside” is really all you need to get a good idea of what this band is about! According to the band itself, there's a concept for the album, which they describe (literally) as “...a travel into the human soul who is crashing into the world: fighting, loving and to be born again...”! Personally, I don't feel any of the aggression one might expect in that concept. I mean, Lanna's vocals are simply too emotionally feminine, and the guitars atop of those orchestrated keyboards don't do the trick either, adding rather, as they do, to Trozzi' epic songwriting.

To cut things short; those among you into female-fronted Symphonic Metal will lóve this...have no doubt!

92/100