| CD REVIEW Fairyland |
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Band: Fairyland Every now and then, some very strange things happen in the world of music making! Take the case of this French Symphonic/ Opera Power Metal band, for instance. From a demo stage they’d worked their way up, thanks to signing to Danish Intromental Management, seeing their Elisa C. Martin (formerly of Dark Moor) fronted album Of Wars In Osiria come to life on French quality label NTS in July 2003. Soon after, both Elisa and co-founder Willdric Lievin left as a result of internal struggles within the band. In the time betwixt albums, the band also signed to the Japanese Burrn! Corporation, resulting in the release of their upcoming album on the Marquee Avalon label. So, things were actually looking up more and more. Following the late 2006 release of the Fall Of An Empire album (review by yours truly posted on this website on 24/11/2006, the album gaining a spot in my year-lists), the band is even given the chance to undertake a European tour in support of Leaves’ Eyes and Kamelot during March and April of 2007. After that, the band still partakes in the Nice based Tomawok Festival on June 12. About a month later, and that without consulting/ speaking to either band leader Philippe Giordana (keyboardist/ backing singer), their managements, or labels, the rest of the band [singer Max Leclercq (recruited 2003), guitarist Anthony Parker (formerly of Heavenly, he came to the band after their 2 demos), guitarist/ bassist Thomas Caesar (his tenure goes even further, having played guitar for the band since founders Giordana and Lievin decided to call in the help of a guitarist for their first demo), and drummer Pierre-Emmanuel Desfray (already participated in the recordings of the debut album)] announced on the band’s forum, without further explications or reasons, that they had quit the band. Undaunted (for resolved to continue making music), although somewhat shaken (who wouldn’t be?), Giordana decided to continue the band as a studio project (taking care of all keyboards and acoustic guitars himself, as well as some programming), working with guest musicians to complete the recordings. First people on that guest list were Pathosray’s Marco Sandron (lead vocals on most of the album) and Fabio D’Amore (bass, plus additional backing vocals and a guitar solo on the track “Godsent”). In the vocal department, additional people were attracted to make for a vocal grandeur unparalleled in Fairyland history: Serenity’s Georg Neuhauser aiding on the album opening song “Across The Endless Sea, Part II”, the ensuing “Assault On The Shore”, “A Soldier’s Letter”, the album’s title track, and finally the album closing “End Credits”…which is the only female fronted song on the album, done by Flora Spinelli of Syrade; other additional female vocals (on “Master Of The Waves”, “A Soldier’s Letter”, and ”Score Of A New Beginning”) are credited to Syrayde’s Klaaire and Benighted Soul’s Geraldine Gadaut (on the track “At The Gates Of Morken”, which also sees her bandmate Jean-Gabriel Bocciarelli contributing backing vocals)…but the biggest surprise is perhaps Willdric Lievin (now playing with Hamka) contributing all drums and additional choirs! For the guitars, Giordana prefered to work with óne rhythm guitarist (Razordog’s Chris Menta, whom was also allowed solos on “A Soldier’s Letter”), and ask a host of other guitarists for a solo guitar contribution. Hence, you’ll find Alessio Vellisig (Pathosray) playing the solo of “Across The Endless Sea, Part II”, while Alex Corona (Revoltons) got away with three contributions [on “Assault On The Shore”, “Godsent” (which already had a solo by Fabio D’Amore, remember?), and “Score To A New Beginning”], Anthropia’s Hugo Lefebvre and Yann Mouhad playing a solo each on “Master Of The Waves”, and eventually Kerion’s Remy Carrayrou contributing to “At The Gates Of Morken”. In addition, Giordani allowed Whyzdom’s Marc Rhulmann to contribute a keyboard solo on the title track (a weird thing to do for such a prolific musician on the keys, eh?). Anyway…the resulting album is one of a grandeur and magnificence that surpasses its predecessors. The Power Metal elements have lessened to allow the singing and Classical elements come to the fore, and also the Folk influences have diminished (only coming through on the album’s title track). Several of the tracks get the sounds of horns put on top, which brings in a movie soundtrack feel that didn’t come through in earlier work by the band either! In essence, this album is a definite improvement compared to the two previous albums, and since The Fall Of An Empire was already included in my “Best Albums Of 2006”-list, all I can do now is include Score To A New Beginning (oh…a conceptual album, closing off the Fairyland trilogy, by the way) to my 2009 year-lists! Regretfully, I failed to find any websites where you might find either samples or full-length mp3-files of music off the new Fairyland album (myspace.com/fairylandmetal got stuck in 2006, apparently)…but I díd forget to check out the label’s website, so maybe you wíll find something there (I’d be surprised if you wouldn’t)! 98/100 Tony. |