Alpine Fault - Iraena's Ashes
CD Info
2011
Self-released
9 Tracks
English Lyrics
On October 11, 2004, young student teacher and model Iraena Asher disappeared off the coast of New Zealand under mysterious circumstances. She'd called the local emergency number in distress from a party, but the cops didn't believe she needed anything other than a ride home and sent a taxi to her, a taxi that went way off course to a different location. Iraena wandered and was eventually taken in by a woman who sheltered her for the night. Early in the morning, Iraena was wandering again, half-dressed towards the beach. Winesses saw her, but before anyone could approach her, she disappeared, never to be seen again. Theories abound, but the truth is still elusive.
This true story sets the scene for Brisbane-based progressive metal band, Alpine Fault's, album, Iraena's Ashes. And what an impressive album it is.
Alpine Fault is a dual-fronted band, with a male singer, Ant Royle, who is also the main writer and lead guitarist, and a female vocalist named Nadia Vanek. Taking a slightly different approach to melodic metal, the band opted to go with an electronic violinist, South African-born Yvette Van Wyk, instead of the usual keyboard set-up. This is the main element that separates this band's sound from other bands in the genre. The violin lends the music a mournful, evocative, classical, and sort of folkiness that fit perfectly with the dark themes the album explores. At times, I was reminded of Lyriel, who also utilize a violinist.
Said dark themse are pretty...well, dark. This is an album that explores, death, dying, loss, and the aftermath of human tragedy in splendid nitty gritty detail. This is an album that truly transports the reader away from reality into an alternate place in the universe where sorrow, longing, and learning to let go are the landscape of the journey.
Starting off with "Into the Night", we are introduced to the crystalline voice of Nadia starts us off on our journey with what I am interpreting as the story of the disappearance of Iraena on that fateful night, told from the point of view of Iraena. It's a haunting beginning. Musically, not only are we introduced to the first half of Alpine Fault's vocal duo, we are also introduced to their progressiveness, their complex song structures, and later on in the song, Ant Royle's vox. For prog, it's a short song (5:11) but it definitely has that prog structure, with distinct sections of varying tempo and rhythm and a great long guitar solo. We also hear how the electric violin weaves in and out with its mournful melodies, soaring above the other instruments.
Most of the songs on Iraena's Ashes are sung as a duet, with Ant coming in and singing on the choruses, giving them a lot of impact. Ant does a couple of songs on his own, with Nadia singing as back-up, and I have to say he has a great, powerful voice. He even does a growl or two, just for a slight effect, nothing too serious. The combination of Ant and Nadia, who has what sounds to me like a soprano range, but not a classical style, is really lovely.
Progressive metal isn't usually my cup of tea but when there is a clear concept with great writing I can get on board. Beyond the Bridge's The Old Man and the Spirit is an example, and Iraena's Ashes is another. The lyrics are beautiful and genuine and there is no overproduced pretense in this release at all. I love the concept, and I particularly enjoyed that the scenes the songs are about are told in the first person point of view. That detail alone gives the songs so much more urgency, character, and makes the emotion behind them so much more accessible to the listener – and reader of the lyrics sheet.
The highlight of the CD for me is "I'll See You Soon", the song that has an accompanying music video. It's so sad, but it's expresses such love, too. I believe it's about someone Iraena left behind when she died. The chorus, sung by Ant once and then in harmony with Nadia, says:
I'll see you soon
I'll meet you there
Did you think that I'd just go on
Without you here
"Requiem" is another of my favourites. It's a a slower piece coming right in the middle of the CD, giving the listener some calmer moments amongst the faster pace of most of the rest of the album. This is more of a power ballad, and again, a duet. And again, it's sad and sorrowful:
In the distance a forlorn figure
Draped in shadow but darker still
Blackened fingers beckon me over
In and instant I'm washed away
I can't say enough about the quality of this production, either. The sound is awesome, and the band got somene really talented on board to do their engineering, Adam Merker. They then sent the CD away to Sweden to be mastered by Jens Bogren (Amon Amarth, Opeth, Soilwork, amongst others). This being a self-released effort, the band, consisting of six members, all split the cost of producing this album. The physical album itself, of which I have a copy, is a beautiful two-CD digipack release complete with beautiful album art. And it's one of the better quality digipacks I've seen recently; some I've gotten have obviously been cheaply produced, and I'm talking about acts with major labels. When I got the CD in the mail, I was so impressed with the package I immediately assumed this came from a major label. But no, these guys went the extra mile and did a slap up job on their own dime. On the second CD is a short film introducing the band, explaining its beginnings, and the history behind the album and its creation. It also has the music video for "I'll See You Soon", which if you see it, is a quality production, too – again, financed by the band.
This is definitely an impressive debut, and I can tell you right now that it'll be on my top 10 list for the year. Be sure to check out Alpine Fault's web site for further details about Iraena Asher, the band, and this excellent album.
10 / 10
