| CD REVIEW Moonfire |
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Band : Moonfire Belgium, Antwerp, 2005: Lead guitarist/ backing singer Yves Van Dorsselaer and bassist Robby Clabaut were playing together in the band Divine, which split up. Following a couple of line-up changes, lead singer/ rhythm guitarist Geert Helsen joins the fold, followed in 2007 by drummer Rudi Vermeulen. Stabilizing the band after the departure of 3 previous skin beaters, the band decide to take a new name, and hence Moonfire (do not confuse for the one-man German Black Metal/ Industrial project) is born in January 2007. With influences ranging from the older Rock Gods such as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, to more recent bands such as Soundgarden, The Black Crows and Black Label Society, the quartet soon started playing gigs all over Belgium to anyone whom wanted to hear 'em, occasionally also participating to band contests (winning 3rd place in the 2008 version of the renowned – in Belgium – annual Humo's Rockrally). According to the band's bio, the guitars and melodies get a focus in the music, and the guys always try to think “out of the box” while writing the songs. The songs have to give the audience a certain feeling, and especially the guitar solos have to support that. But each song also tells its own tale, and that tale is supported by a fitting melody. Sometimes it's intimate, sometimes it's up-tempo, sometimes it's... (well, they left that open, you know!). Stylistically, the band describes itself as “Alternative/ Rock/ Southern Rock”, but with this promo-CD...which is composed of 10 tracks, the first 4 of which are studio recordings done at Antwerp's Music City (then mixed & mastered by Helsen at MusicMotion Studio in a joint production with the band), the next 3 are live recordings from a performance at the Stekene Open Air festival, and the latter 3 are “live unplugged” tracks recorded at Hype Studio...the music seems more acceptable to a broader audience, and therefore can be called “mainstream-oriented”! Personally however, I feel they stand only a little chance at breaking through to the bigger masses. Not because of the tunes, because they're well thought-out and well-performed, but you see, the lead singer regrettably falls short in several songs. He's got a nice timbre to his voice alright (a slight nasal quality), but he frequently over-does things in mid-high regions of the note scale...and this works kinda disturbingly. Check out (www.) myspace.com/moonfirebelgium (where the band posted all songs on the album but one), and you'll most probably agree. End conclusion: Spend some money for a year's vocal lessons with a decent tutor, and you might just bring these same songs with that much more verve! 80/100 Tony. |
