BW&BK; scribe Carl Begai recently received an exclusive listen to TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA violinist Anna Phoebe's forthcoming solo album, Rise Of The Warrior. He has checked in with the following report.

"Violinist Anna Phoebe is best known as one of the lead performers in Paul O’Neill’s ridiculously popular Trans-Siberian Orchestra, his annual blockbuster Christmas production. She has earned herself a fanbase that has followed her work with Jethro Tull, Oi Va Voi and several other artists outside TSO, but it’s safe to say that very few of said legion are prepared for her first full length solo album, Rise Of The Warrior. It’s not for the faint-of-heart or anyone looking for Masterpiece Theatre background music. Nope, this is a full-on metal album, and like Apocalyptica’s last couple outings it proves classical string instruments are as much about shred as they are about nuance with the right players/composers doing the work.

Call her Apocalyptica's little sister, if you will.

A collaboration between Phoebe and After Forever keyboardist Joost van den Broek, Rise Of The Warrior is a 12 track instrumental tour-de-force that draws the listener in with traditional song structures instead of over-the-the top mindless wankery. Phoebe’s violin is the album’s voice, her accent slightly Celtic without going for the cliché folk metal standards that have bored many a fan of the genre to tears in recent years. She glides like a metalhead born through tracks composed and played with Van den Broek, who has expanded on the heavy vibe he brought to After Forever’s last outing. Bandmate Sander Gommans provides a wall of guitars for all but the quietest moments of Rise Of The Warrior, backing up Phoebe’s recent claim that the album falls somewhere between Nightwish and Rammstein.

It’s interesting to note that Phoebe composed Rise Of The Warrior as a concept album. Damned if she didn’t pull it off, telling a complete story without uttering a single word. An unexpectedly infectious and satisfying listen.”

The album tracklist is as follows: 'Rise Of The Warrior', 'Spirit Of Tara', 'Ballingoola', 'The Farewell', 'Dawn Of The Sphinx', 'Call To Arms', 'Fallen Warrior', 'Army Of Souls', 'Battle Of The Gods', 'Fallen Ashes', 'Nemesis', 'The Journey Home'.

Watch for an in-depth BW&BK; interview with Phoebe, coming soon.