Various Artists - Beauty and Brutality
CD Info
2010
Femme Metal Records / UK
31 Tracks
English Lyrics
Compilation albums can be a good way to discover new music. Sonic Cathedral has put out two such albums (2005’s "Sirens," and 2008’s "A World of Sirens") to promote female-fronted rock and metal bands. In recent years, the UK-based organization Femme Metal has followed suit. Femme Metal’s first two compilation albums were "Femininity and Ferocity" in 2008 and "Demonic and Divine" in 2009, with all proceeds going to Macmillan Cancer Support & Research in the UK. This October, Femme Metal will release its third compilation, "Beauty and Brutality," again with all profits going to the same charity. This 2-disk, 31-track monster that clocks in at over 2 hours may overwhelm the listener at first. However, it provides an interesting ride through the land of "femme metal" – and hits both highs and lows along the way.
What you’ll notice right away is that "Beauty and Brutality" is jam-packed with variety. You’ll hear punishing uptempo numbers followed by more relaxed midtempo rockers, with the occasional power ballad thrown in. You’ll also find a wide range of metal styles: progressive, symphonic, gothic, hard rock, industrial, folk, and good ol’ heavy metal, just to name a few. The bands come from all over Europe and North America, and all but two songs are sung in English. These exceptions are Soulmaker’s "A Vide" (French) and Kivimetsän Druidi’s "Jäässä Varttunut" (Finnish). Altogether, these elements make "Beauty and Brutality" a colorful and unpredictable collection, especially if it’s your introduction to any of the bands it features.
I can’t comment on all 31 tracks without this review getting too long. Instead, here are some of the highlights on both discs:
Disc 1 begins with "Head Up High" from Floor Jansen’s new band ReVamp. This rousing, string-laced track is the perfect reminder that Floor is one of the most impressive female vocalists to have ever hit the scene. Asrai will tug at your heartstrings with "Stay with Me," a simple song of love and loss over a bed of distorted synths and guitars. Exilia and Crownless both offer robust, guitar-driven tracks, while Dama and Disdained deliver smooth, more melodious songs that are equally as good. Triaxis wraps up the first disc with "Gates of Damnation." If the commanding riffs and shredding solo don’t convince you this song is wicked, the malicious laughter of the band’s vocalist Krissie will.
Disc 2 kicks off with one of the most famous bands in the business: Epica, with its thunderous ballad "Unleashed." This song is a stellar example of Epica’s heavier, more majestic direction. Other ambitious songs follow, including Dimlight’s "Absence of Light" and Seven Kingdom’s "Somewhere Far Away." The latter track demonstrates that good female-fronted power metal doesn’t have to be soaked in symphonics. Finland’s Vanity Ink will get you up and dancing or headbanging (or both) with the anthem "Smell the Party." "Frightening Lanes" by Virus IV is awesome with its deafening riffs, rousing chorus, and the strident, throaty wails of Magali Luyden. The true gem on this disc, however, is saved for the end: "Destined," by Dutch prog-metallers Ex Libris. You wouldn’t expect erratic guitars and keyboards to meld with Dianne van Giersbergen’s mature soprano so naturally – but Ex Libris makes it work. The result is nothing short of electrifying.
Not all listeners will love the wealth of diversity on "Beauty and Brutality." Depending on your tastes, you might cringe while listening to the brutal thrash bands or get bored with the frothy electro-rock numbers. Apart from that, some bands featured on "Beauty and Brutality" do less than impress. Infinite Tales’ jarring, sloppy take on melodic death metal could induce a headache, while One Without and Exoterik are perfect examples of the sleepy side of alternative metal. Other bands on the compilation could have been represented better with stronger songs. For example, Revision has a solid, classic heavy metal approach, but its song "Shapeless" is a tug-of-war between the swaying guitars and the choral melodies. And while Apparition is heralded as one of the UK’s best female-fronted bands, its song "Elysium" would make you think otherwise. Its chorus is plagued by a disjointed time signature and a sickly melody that make the piece unpleasant.
It’s difficult to please every metalhead – or music lovers in general – with compilation albums. But, with "Beauty and Brutality," Femme Metal has once again delivered a product that offers something for everyone. This collage of riffs and voices is a solid representation of the current female-fronted metal scene. It features only a couple of well-known bands, but chances are at least one of the many up-and-coming acts will grab your attention and become your next music obsession. So, in some ways, "Beauty and Brutality" is a breath of fresh air. Anyone who enjoyed Sonic Cathedral’s or Femme Metal’s previous compilations will like this one as well. And don’t forget that by purchasing "Beauty and Brutality," your money goes to a worthwhile cause.
7.5 / 10
Most Promising Bands Featured on this Compilation: Ex Libris, Virus IV, Triaxis, Vanity Ink and Asrai
"Beauty and Brutality" will be available all over Europe after the scheduled October 25th release date.
