Band : Sparkle Of Hope

Album title : Light The Torches

Label : Funtime

Distributor : Suburban

Release date : 23/05/2008

Release : CD

Hum...having read what former collegue Trik wrote about this Belgian Metalcore outfit's 2006 debut full-length (posted 23/04 of that year, and therefor still available for your scrutiny), I decided to go back to the band's very beginnings, and tell you the whole story.

So, Sparkle Of Hope was formed in the Summer of 2000, but it took 'em 'til 2005 to find a stead line-up. Meanwhile, the band released their first demo What's The True Meaning Of Love (When It's Just An Instrument To Break Hearts) in December 2002, and followed that up with Dead Stars Never Fall in April 2004. Along with the releases came interesting opportunities, like playing at Rock Herk or the Funtime Fest...and the eventual signing to Funtime Records. Rather that counting on the songs they already hàd at the time, the boys (then lead singer Yves Daniels, guitarists Daan Witters and Tim Severi, bassist Koen Meys, and drummer Kristof Lemmens)decided to surpass themselves and turn a new leaf. So they huddled together in the rehearsal room and started to write a completely new repertoire, taking their music to a new level. With a passionate interest in both Hardcore and Heavy Metal, and influenced by more recent bands like Darkest Hour, As I Lay Dying, and Still Remains, but also by even more established acts like Iron Maiden, the boys set to create something quite their own. Funtime immediately recognized the band's worth, allowed them to record at top recording place Dé Studio with Dirk Miers during October – November of 2005, and then sent the data over to top producer Alan Douches in the US (sufficiently know for the work he did with Atreyu, Black Dahlia Murder, Everytime I Die, Unearth, and so many, màny more)to master the whole thing. And guest vocal performances by Dries of The Maple Room on one, and by Lost In Rhone's Steve on two other songs, were proof enough that the quintet had known to make friends in the Belgian music scene! To give the release an even higher profile, the artwork was delivered by Mike Bukowski (see also Comeback Kid, Modern Life Is War, Most Precious Blood, NOFX, and others).

Reactions from both the press and fans were ultimately positive, and the buzz created led to SOH playing an endless list of gigs, including an appearance at the Taste Of Chaos tour date at Brussels' AncienneBelgique (after winning the Ernie Ball's Battle Of The Bands), and some impromptu touring in the UK (amongst others, also with Penknifelovelife during July 2006). Eventually, even yours truly got to buy the album, although for purely scene-supporting reasons in the first place. In fact, I didn't get around to actually lístening to the record untill I was given the new album for review. My personal opinion about It's Calculated Murder!? Well, although the band played a very nicely layered Metalcore with accordingly varying vocals, I felt that there was still room for improvement where the intricacy of melodies is concerned.

So did the band, by the way, unaware that this progress would mean the departure of one of their longtime members. When new writing sessions started, longtime drummer Kristof felt that he simply couldn't keep up with the band's musical aspirations and skills, and in March 2007 news came that he had decided to leave the band in order to allow the other guys to grow. The separation was of course somewhat painful, but the band soon found a replacement in Ryan Lerigo-Jones, a crazy British kid who previously played with Lostfoundbroken and moved to Belgium to join one of his favourite bands. Working their way towards the Summer, the guys still did a couple of gigs, but concentrated on their songwriting first! Then, late August guitarist Dann went off to Valencia, Spain for six months. Meanwhile, the other guys continued their rehearsals (and I'm sure Daan also practiced some while on the Iberian island), and upon his return the guys did the last fine-tuning before entering the Split Second Sound studio, ran by Textures singer Jochem Jacobs and his study pal Bouke Visser. Jacobs also co-produced the album with the band, and did the album mix and mastering.

The cumulative effect of all factors involved makes the previous album pale by comparison! Good heavens, SOH's new album rips from front to back. Well, not completely, because the untitled (and unlisted) short instrumental on the album actually brings a moment of calmer and extremely beautiful atmospherics. As far as the guitar work is concerned on the 8 songs, you're safe to say a high degree of Progressive Metal has entered the overal music, and this not only in the leads, but also in the slightly lower pitched rhythmics. In fact, played somewhat slower, the rhythm guitar brings in a lot of the groove, while the lead guitar is almost constantly off in harmonized melodies at a higher pace and throwing in a couple of unexpected twists and turns as well. These poly-rhythms, together with the varied vocals (returning on backing vocals is Dries from The Maple Room, other vocal guests this time around being Rik & Tijs from Campus, Koen from Billy Got Spanked, Jonas from Exit On The Left, and Jochem Jacobs), makes for an absolutely exhilerating whole which exceeds our boldest expectations, and which simply nééds to be heard by any fan of the Millenium Metalcore genre. The album release originally planned for early May and then delayed to the 23 rd has had as effect that the fivesome went on a short Swedish tour (from the 17 th to the 24 th of May, which saw the band perform at Örebro's Treasurefest)without a new album as merchandise item. It made no difference that some of the gigs were cancelled for reasons beyond SOH's control, as the guys had real great fun goin' anyway! During July and August, they'll be playing a couple of youth centers accross Belgium, so if you're into getting to know a band in live conditions, check out where the'll be...and try to get there too!

One thing you will notice right-off when consulting myspace.com/sparkleofhope, is the wonderful artwork for the album, brought to us by one Dan Mumford (who's previously also done cover art work for Gallows and others). Then, you might wanna compare the posted album title song with the three others. I'm sure you'll agree that to say that in the last two years SOH grew from a bunch of young wannabee hopefuls to a right-out competitor for the crown in the modern Metalcore genre, is an understatement to say the least! It shouldn't be a surprise toi find this album in my "Best Albums Of 2008"-list at the end of the year!

98/100

Tony.