Interestingly enough, Seraphim seems to release each album in both Chinese and English. The one I am listening to as I write this is in Chinese, and my Chinese is a little limited, in fact, Chop Suey is about as far as it goes other than a few quotes from Mao’s Little Red Book. Fortunately, the lyrics in English are readily available so you don’t have to consult your Chinese / English dictionary.

The sound is Nightwish, and not necessarily a Chinese version of Nightwish. In fact, this band is so infatuated with Nightwish that the production took place in Sweden, followed by mixing in Finland. Of course, that’s not a bad idea what with the immense amount of music in this genre coming from those two rather interesting countries, especially Finland. I can’t for the life of me figure out why a little country like Finland can possibly be such a musical headquarters, although my European friends tell me that once you’ve visited there, you quickly understand.

From a historical perspective, Seraphim began in 2001 as a Gothic Metal Band. Their first album, The Soul That Never Dies is a little more gothic in style, with more grunting and other traditional gothic sounds. This CD, in both the Chinese and English versions, is more power metal. Less grunting and a slightly different flavor to the lyrical message. The name, Seraphim, is also of interest, especially given the Chinese heritage. Seraphim is a Biblical term from both the Jewish and Christian perspective. In Judaism, Seraphim are part of the angelarchy of Orthodox Judaism. That’s angels, for those unfamiliar with the term. Seraphim occupy the fifth rank of ten ranks of angels in Maimonides’ exposition of the Jewish angelic hierarchy. In the Christian tradition Seraphim are a class of angels along with the Cherubim. They are mentioned in medieval Christian neo-Platonic theology as the highest order, the heavenly choir. . . as it were. Just guessing here, but I suspect that’s the definition they are looking most closely at when selecting the name.

So, that being made abundantly clear, let’s look at the music and the message. With the release of their first album, Seraphim quickly took over the lead in Gothic Metal in Taiwan. That interest spread, especially in the east but, today it is a very much more universal interest. The band has no problem being compared to Nightwish, even if the comparison has some limitations. Lead vocalist Pay has a fine soprano delivery, a beautiful voice but not consistent traditional opera a la Tarja, although she does do a fine opera presentation on some songs. You don’t get tired of it, her style is fluid and there is some fine overlaying to make the sound even richer, she harmonizes with herself as well as anyone. The music is also varied. There are mostly power metal titles in this work, and, even in Chinese, you get the message. The guitar work is also strong, even a strong speed metal component. The band uses two lead guitars, Thiago and Kessier, the later providing much of the thrash work. Kessier also provides the grunting and it’s pretty good. There are clean male vocals on other CDs but this one is pretty much standard, if limited, old time grunting.

The remainder of the band includes bassist Mars and drummer Van.

There are some lighter works, assuming you are flexible with the term lighter.

Lyrically, and I assume the Chinese is a relatively direct translation of the English, or vice versa, the themes are pretty much standard for this type of music, if somewhat less gothic in nature. The second track, Think this World is representative:

Dying people chase the fantasy, the satire of foolish mankind

Who is quizzing the deceased? Who will tread on revenant?

Affected body drunk and dissipate, A miserable life of sorrow

You'll be exposed in danger, therefore earth-shaking that you've made

Ah Think this world's brutality, back into darkness

The wreckage is burning!

Quit wishes to decease, calamity!

The devil in deep thought, chaos!

Stay me in the end, live in death crisis

The deep meditation, finally stop the end

It’s pretty good, some interesting themes, but not as strong as a Morton Veland or others who take a little deeper look at things. But, if you have the Chinese version, you’ll never know what they’re saying anyway. And, that is not the horrible thing you might expect. Because, assuming you are comfortable with the Nightwish style of music, this is really good stuff. A little different but the female vocals are very much worth the price of admission. She hits every note like a carpenter on a straight roof. And she flows from an operatic style to other styles effortlessly. All are outstanding. And the background sound is tight, fast and heavy.

Seraphim has one of the widest listening audiences of any musical formation around, and not just in Asia. With that much appreciation you have to assume they have something going for them. . . and they do. Give it a listen.

8 / 10