AMBERIAN DAWN - The Clouds Of Northern Thunder
September 12, 2009, 15 years ago
(Suomen Musiikki)
Sophomore effort from female-fronted Finns fulfills the promises hinted at on the debut. While many dismissed this outfit as just another entry in the fem-metal sweepstakes, or worse, a coattail-rider of countrymen/woman Nightwish (although those longing for the operatic days of Tarja can find solace in the disc closing, ‘Birth Of The Harp’), the aggressive guitars on the likes of opener ‘He Sleeps In A Grove’ and ‘Kokko - Eagle Of Fire’ stake claims to highly stylized individuality. Heidi Paviainen’s lilting/cooing tones are joined by male counterpart for ‘Incubus’. ‘Willow Of Tears’ and the aforementioned album ender are thankfully the lone forays into ballad-ville amongst the dozen tracks. Keeping the tempo upbeat is the key, apparently this winning strategy finally Dawned on them!
