Dark Sarah
Behind the Black Veil

Dark Sarah is an interesting, sexy and colourful name for a project. The artwork hardly changes that view, it certainly looks like a very exciting album on the surface. Behind the moniker hides a girl named Heidi Parvainen from the metal Mecca that is also known as Finland, if you know the name it is because she once fronted the band Amberian Dawn with whom she released four albums. She started this project 2012 and has managed to find some very prominent guest singers to perform on her album, most notably perhaps Tony Kakko from Sonata Arctica. One can certainly claim that it looks the part, but that is not a guarantee for it playing the part – that is probably the most notable thing I have learnt during my time writing album reviews.

The Dark Sarah is a classically trained vocalist and that is clearly audible as the vocal performance is excellent, elegant and well balanced. The story about Dark Sarah begins with a young girl left at the altar by her husband to be, this awakens her darker side something the character herself describes as bittersweet – I think that is a good description of the mood on this album. It is power metal with female operatic vocals, many would compare with Nightwish but I think this is less over the top and more down to earth, more focused on the voice than some bombastic atmosphere.  It is built around strong vocal melodies and keys but not without solid riffs and some nice atmospheric keyboards, a very well balanced album that is strongly varied and dynamic.

I would say that this is a quality production, and it is an album that I can strongly recommend – especially if you like female fronted metal. It is kept simple but still with a good depth and a nice focus on the excellent vocals. It is built around a familiar framework but still with a very fresh sound, I think this is a great debut album and most certainly a great album compared with anything. I think it is well worth taking a closer look at, it will be worth both the time and the money you need to invest in it. After enjoying this album I am now hoping for more exciting and great stuff from Sarah, she certainly has the potential to make something fantastic as long as she doesn’t get stuck on repeat –that would be a real shame.

Not the easiest thing to pick a favourite song on this album, when all the songs are really strong. It is easier to say that there aren’t any songs that you just pick out as worse. If I still am to try and name a favourite it is probably Silver Tree, which is a track I enjoy immensely every time I hear it. Another one worthy of an honourable mention is Light in You, a great duet with Tony Kakko and a lovely song. Those two are my current favourites on this great album – an album you should have a closer look at, it is worth it!

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