Review Sebastien - Tears of White Roses 2010

It must be difficult for a band that wants to be taken serious to origin from the same country as Skoda and Budweiser. It's a dilemma well known to Czech Sebastien. As one of few bands in hard rock from this often forgotten country in central Europe it is very fun for me to get an album like 'Tears of White Roses' since it's such a great surprice in so many ways that shows prove of hidden talents in small and tiny country. Sure, most of us know about the Czech success in ice hockey, but to see something good in music from this country is more than most of us knew. So what is to expect from this band?

Well, before Sebastien became Sebastien this band was called Navar and released one album and one EP. The reason for chaning the name came from half of the band leaving and needed replacement. With new faces and a somewhat new music a new name was natural and here is the first full lenght album from the band with the new name. With a woman on the cover. And called 'Tears of White Roses'. No, I'm not mocking the band and cover, I actually think this album cover is one of the best looking covers I've seen in a long time!

The music here lies somewhere in the twilight of the rebirthed power metal from about ten years ago and traditional hard rock. The music is almost like a Ferrari - like a big mixed bowl of beauty, technical know-hows and due to too much passion-related compromises, not always the best practical sollutions. It's also fast and have a form of extatic enjoyability in what can be heard on the album. But somehow, in a way, it feels a bit careless in how it's putted together and not as perfect in the details as you first got the impression of. One can almost imagine it to be like a Ferrari and be more of a show-off thing you put in your shelfs, clearly visible in a glassed box where it is to be seen but not touched and where you as the owner is too affraid to use it even though you know you love every second you do. But a thought like that is quite bizarre - an album doesn't cost you houndreds of tousands to buy an album. And I seriously doubt anyone will get the same impressed reactions when you tell people you have a Sebastian album at home, compared to the eyebrow raised reactions to a statement like "I have a Ferrari". But who knows, it might just be me who thinks that way.

So... What does this album have that makes it more sensible to own than a Ferrari? Well, to begin with it's an album you'll probably play more than with a Ferrari. Second, it doesn't ruin you. The album comes with a fantastic, crystal clear sound to the high quality music that is able to touch your soul. I can't really come up with any bands that I immidietly think of when I hear Sebastien, but that doesn't mean there aren't any that sound like them. What it mean is that Sebastien isn't a band that rudely plagiarize other bands by fetching eggs from the same hen and try to breed an own bird farm with the chickens from those. Sebastien stand strongly on their own feet and beside this the list of guest musicans adding their contribution to the album is quite impressive!

There's at least four or five songs on this album that I thnk is really great! Unfortunately there's also about two-three songs that are dull and sound like they were produced on assembly lines, which mean they sound large scale produced and without a heart and soul. However, the overall impression is that it's good music that at least is able to speak to me, and that's at least someone. The songs that leaves most buzz around them are Musee du Satan Rouge, Dorian, Remiel in Flames, Tears of White Roses and Fields of Chlum (1866 A.D.), which are all great songs. But also here there are some trade marked Italian neglience in it that makes these songs that potentially are good enough to be some of the, probably the very, greatest songs made in 2010 to end up being great, really good... but not as good as they could be. Maybe it's unexperience? Maybe it's because they have Italian guests? Either case it's as close to a success as you can get without bringing it home.

So, conclusion: To anyone that likes more grand power metal and want the music answer to a Ferrari - well here are some Czech guys you really can invest in. They sound sacral and powerful... and passionated. In their best moments the album is up and bouncing at a six, but the couple of odd songs that can't keep the quality up (which come one too many at the end) makes it drop a step. However, this is a white rose planted for everyone to enjoy!

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Sebastien Tears of White Roses

Sebastien
Tears of White Roses