Show lulls away from stereotypical fronted female-fronted rock Amanda Chamberlain The Globe A wave of publicized over-publicized over-glamorized over front female ed bands seems to be making an evident comeback after a hiatus post but its it's the rocker band that's claiming fans left and right and without adhering to any stereotypes either the heavy rock quintet storming out of Helsinki Finland make sure that their music holds as much entertainment and captivation value as it does diversity which their latest album exemplifies exemplifies exemplifies exem exem- to the prime degree The bands band's newest album Vol 4 hit the streets via Century Media on Jan 24 this year and holds the abundant potential of being the most lis- lis tenable and melodic of their now four full Noticeably absorbing the melancholic nature of their homelands homeland's musical style incorporates gothic themes melodies and lyrics following suit of fellow Finnish bands like HIM and The 69 Eyes However the sound also includes copious amounts of heavy metal riffs and beats while including some pop and punk punkin in the vocals as well Differing greatly from voiced angel-voiced but just-for- just looks vocalist Cristina Lacuna Coil and whimsically voiced opera-voiced vocalist Nell Theater of Tragedy punk and rock pop-rock influenced vocals resounding from brunette Tanja arent aren't as much the focus of the overall reverberation as merely merely merely mere mere- ly an integral thread in the overall tapestry of the bands band's sound Vol sound can become complicated or relaxed at any given moment and can switch from a vocal serenade to a guitar solo to a rhythmic breakdown within a single song And though Perfect Tonight first track of Vol 4 sounds like a song found on Dance Dance Revolution and slow-paced slow I Want You sounds like a song destined for a flick chick-flick soundtrack the majority of the album promises to please with strong guitar riffs catchy minor-choir minor melodies and talented talented talented tal tal- tal- tal meet instruments-meet- rhythm showdowns Drummer Jukka classic but upbeat and sometimes sometimes sometimes some some- times drastically pounding t r 4 Jf 9 fI t 7 4 Y y t m CD mv v I I 7 M 1 CD s U a 40 y Finnish quintet not only look like rockers but have the sound to back it up beats become the recognizable staple of the album constantly tying the melodious guitars and sometimes extraneous vocals down to a technically planned sound structure Bassist Heavy's low and surprise surprise surprise sur sur- prise heavy bass lines tactfully tactful tactful- ly compliment Tanjas Tanja's alto vocals also ensuing that the average rock tone remains consistently balanced throughout the album Sauli Kivilahti's rock pure-rock rhythm guitar makes several songs on the thc album like fast- fast paced Fire Within party anthems that listeners can swing their heads and pump their fists to without a second thought Complimenting Kivilahti to a tee tee lead guitarist guitarist guitarist gui gui- Sami harmonics harmonics harmonics har har- and skillful solos weave melodically in and out of the power chords and verses verses verses vers vers- es on this album giving the ears of metal enthusiasts a place in fan base Overall tends to defy fronted female-fronted band stereotypes like overdone ne opera-esque opera vocals and whimsical whimsical whimsical whim whim- keyboarding and Vol 4 proves a trotting genre-trotting and organized eclectically-organized addition addition addition addi addi- tion to any rocking hard-rocking Goth rock or metal fans fan's album col col- lection f riff 1 I f I d |