Fatima Hill - Aion


Year of Release: 2002
Label: Worldchaos Productions
Catalog Number: KDM-008
Format: CD
Total Time: 47:34:00

Fatima Hill plays a crunchy form of metal that is, according to band leader Anjue Yamashiro, influenced by both 80s hard rock and a sense of the mystical. In some ways the music is raw, especially Yamashiro's guitar, yet there's a polish and sophistication to it as well. What distinquishes the music is the husky singing of Yuko, a female singer who sounds more masculine than Jon Anderson or Geddy Lee. The music usually stays mid-tempo and gravitates between mid-range heavy rockers and symphonic styled ballads. There's a nice use of acoustic guitar and electric mandolin which, along with the keys, gives the sound a progressive, rich sound.

"Aeon" in particular is a standout, with mellotron and mandolin which has a late Zepplinesque quality. The keys become more predominant as the CD progresses, at times sounding more symphonic than is normal in metal recordings. There's also a hint of Eastern music in the guitar.

"Other" is a nice mellow track which incorporates some moog leads and a very hooky guitar.

"Stigmata" begins with a powerful, epic intro then transforms into blistering hard rock standard. By the end, a swirl of synthesizers takes us to the finale.

"Song for Beatrice Part 3" ends the CD in epic style, weaving between folk, crashing themes, and moody melotron/synth foundations. I haven't heard previous works from this band. Fatima Hill wears it's influences well yet, being ecclectic enough, seems to have its own personality as a band. It would be interesting to see what direction Yamachiro and company take on their next album.


Tracklisting:
Ares Dragon (6:05) / Babel Dune (3:58) / The Black Bat (4:23) / Aeon (4:24) / Ultimata (6:37) / Other (6:24) / Stigmata (6:24) / The Song For Beatrice Part 3 (The Seven Songs) (9:20)

Musicians:
Yuko - voice and chorus
Anjue Yamashiro - guitars, electric mandolin
Takamichi Koeda - keyboards
Hayato Asano - bass

Discography:
Valhalla (1997)
Aion (2002)
The Snow Tower (2009)

All Rain All Friends All Rain Song And Rain (DVD) (2005)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin JP

Added: April 7th 2002
Reviewer: RIPZ

Artist website: www.fatima-hill.com
Hits: 2443
Language: english

  

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