Sanvoisen - Soul Seasons

Year of Release: 1997
Label: Saraya
Catalog Number: 43-1007
Format: CD
Total Time: 40:37:00

Dream Theater and Queensryche are the two bands that come to mind while listening to Sanvoisen's Soul Seasons - and yet The Sweet's "Ballroom Blitz" comes to mind when "Mindwar" begins - but only for the first few moments.

While the above comparisons are a starting point, there is enough deviation by this German band to keep them just this side of the clone line. And if Dream Theater and Queensryche are influential at all, it is in concert with a host of other influences. While not exactly progressive, maybe closer to power metal, it is a good, if uninspiring listen. Nothing blows me away like, say, Angra, Vanden Plas...or even as Dream Theater and Queenryche did on my first hearing them. But this is metal that should offend no one (musically) - clean, melodic, well-done vocals; clear production, good playing. It is an above average disc and one that I can see myself growing to like more and more, but I can't tell you that it is essential, especially to budget-minded collectors (though I picked my copy up for .99 cents). Price isn't so much the issue, and in comparison to the likes of Vanden Plas, seem a bit more like typical progressive(ish) metal.

"Broken Silence" is an acoustic based, Spanish-flavoured track - out of place among the others tracks; a mellow Ricky Martin perhaps, but not quite as pop as all that.

"Waiting For The Rain" starts with a rather nice bass intro, somewhat different from the rest of the album, and because it stays up in the mix keeps it from sounding "samey" with the other tracks on the album.

If you're new to progressive/power metal, I'd start with the other bands I mentioned plus many others reviewed on these pages.

Tracklisting:
Spirits (3:24) / Mindwars (4:25) / Behind My Dreams (5:15) / The Difference (3:49) / Soul Seasons (6:07) / Against The Fears (5:15) / Broken Silence (3:45) / Waiting For The Rain (5:00) / Somebody's Stolen My Name (3:37)

Musicians:
Vagelis Maranis - vocals
Angel Sch?nbrunn - guitars
Hendrik B?ttcher - guitars
Horst Gamo Andree - bass
Ulf S Gokeler - drums

Discography:
Exotic Ways (1994)
Soul Seasons (1997)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin DE

Added: December 1st 1999
Reviewer: Stephanie Sollow
Score:
Artist website: www.sanvoisen.com
Hits: 2621
Language: english