Band:
Ian Arkley – Guitar, vocals, analogue synth
Kate Hamilton – Bass, vocals, keyboard
Andi Lee – Guitar, vocals, analogue synth
Jasen White – Vocals
Steve Allan – Drums
Discography:
Black Lights & Silent Roads (2010)
A Garland of Tears (2008)
The Anatomy of Melancholy (2007)
Shadow of Sorrow (2006)
My Silent Wake (2005)
Guests:
Info:
Recorded at Kewsound Studio, UK.
Produced by Steve Allan and MSW.
Engineered by Steve Allan and Kate Hamilton.
Mixed by Arttu Sarvanne at Studio Watercastle, Jyvaskyla, Finland.
Mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios, Helsinki, Finland.
Released: 1/11-2010
Reviewed: 18/10-2010
Links:
mysilentwake.co.uk
myspace
darkbalance
This impression from the first paragraph is not in error either as it is exactly where the band is situated. With darkish, almost melancholic and dark sound they spice their metallic roots up. The music is slow paced and heavy and dark, some vocals are in the growly area and some are clean the sense is that there is a good balance between those parts.
The record also has an almost hypnotic feel to it, the atmosphere is melancholic and morose thanks to a very good production in this matter. The record has eight tracks and lasts for just over 40 minutes.
As this was a record from Gordeon promotion I was naturally a bit doubtful because most of what we have gotten from them at least that has come to me has been rather bad, there has been some exception to this but not much and I can state that My Silent Wake is definitely among the best records I have gotten from Gordeon this far. It is a solid and well made gothic record, it has an almost hypnotic atmosphere with a refreshing sense of melancholy which is something a melancholic person like me can appreciate.
There are some problems though where the main one is the lack of anything like a hit song, it is slow and solid and with eight really good tracks but the hit song, the one that incite you to select it when you select which record to play. That song is missing and it is a bit negative to the overall picture.
However, all in all this record is a very well made and a very good record with a great atmosphere that reeks of melancholy and darkness. I think My Silent Wake have done a good record no doubt about it, too bad it just don’t have that hit song.
In the end I would say that if you are a fan of melancholic gothic metal I am sure that you will like this record very much, for me it will probably just be added to the pile where the ones I will not play after a review ends up, not because it is bad but because it misses that hit song that I like so much.
HHHHHHH
