Märchenbilder - Flickering Truth
Märchenbilder - CD Review
Flickering Truth
CD Info
2013
Independent
12 Tracks
English Lyrics
Märchenbilder is the German word for images of fairy tales. Märchenbilder the band is a Montreal, Quebec, symphonic female metal band. The band has released their debut album Flickering Truth on May 30th 2013.
Märchenbilder were inspired by the orchestral music of the German composers of the 19th century, like Richard Wagner, Beethoven, Schubert, and R. Strauss. Julie Bélanger Roy, chief lyricist and vocalist was especially inspired by Robert Jordan’s concepts from The Wheel of Time series.
Märchenbilder includes Julie Bélanger Roy; James Slainmann, on guitars and keys; and Yanic Bercier, on drums. Julie Bélanger Roy, a mezzo-soprano, violist, and violinist and James Slainmann, a composer and orchestrator, met during their studies at the Montréal Conservatory of Music. They formed the band in 2009. Märchenbilder recorded this multi-faceted performance at Wave Transform Studios in Knoxville, TN. For the recording of Flickering Truth, Märchenbilder also enlisted Chris Gratton, on cello; and Chicco Parisi Lalonde, on bass.
Many of the compositions on this album draw from the inspiration of artists like Hans Zimmer, Howard Shore, Danny Elfman, and John Williams. The band’s sound draws some similarities to Dimmu Borgir, Nightwish, and Rhapsody of Fire.
The lyrics used in the symphony tell of stories inspired by the fairy tales of old. Many include the kind of stories that don’t end well. The artwork for the album was created by Alexandra V Bach of Ravendusk Design.
My favorite tracks were the powerful opener, “Prelude”, which is full of dynamic orchestration and Julie Bélanger Roy’s mezzo-soprano voice reaching skyward with full choir-like support, “Memories.Auguries. Underneath, buried deep inside. We gave up. We forgot. As the years slowly spread their dust”.
I also enjoyed the band trademark track “Märchenbilder”, with Roy’s voice singing, “Each new dawn, new chapter. A never ending story. Every step you take, every breath. A new line is written down”. Bercier’s drums help make this track spectacular as he punches out the rhythm like a machine gun. The powerful orchestration also continues to dominate the soundscape well.
“Two Paths” also opens dramatically with powerful orchestration and that cool machine gun effect on drums from Bercier’s drums. Roy’s vocal delivery is so powerful and classical that it is hard at times to understand the lyrics, without a lyrics book. Narration flows through this track and others on the album as the story is laid out multi-directionally.
“Contemplation”, like the opening track, ends far too quickly. It is a soft angelic acoustic guitar interlude which will make you wish it lasted much longer.
“Elegy” with its opening sound effects and its soft flute like opening is another one of the best tracks on the album. Roy sheds the piercing mezzo-soprano vocals for a wonderful soft Shire – like performance with great string orchestration supporting.
Overall this is a worthy album in the genre. A new, very classical sound, created by well-trained classically influenced musicians. Give this album a chance to grow on you and I think you will be happy for the dynamic changes and difference in the sound compared with many bands in this genre.
Rating: 6 / 10
