Mercury Rain - Dark Waters


Year of Release: 2003
Label: self-released
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 41:10:00

Dark Waters is the first full length album released by Bristol-based power metal band Mercury Rain. Although they label themselves a power metal band, their music has a lot of progressive elements in it, such as powerful melody lines, good solos and a female singer with a beautiful voice. The album is a concept story about the men who died at sea and sought redemption for their souls to find peace; it is about damnation, the life of wretched people who suffer eternally for their crimes, and about the rituals performed after the death at sea of a loved one.

Opening song "Broella" opens with a short dark keyboard intro, followed by a very powerful double bass and guitar riff, but has several quiet moments to give room for vocalist Sonia Porzier. All songs could be characterised as melodious with heavy guitar riffs as well as pounding drum and bass and the whole is topped off with modest synths that do not dominate, but are definitely there. "Bride Of The Dark" is one of the better songs from the album and has a nice synth intro, followed by crunchy guitars and a great guitar solo. The last song on the album is noteworthy in the first place because this is the only song with acoustic guitars in it, but also because of the title: "Le Paradis Du Couchant." Yes, French. And the lyrics are also in French. Most likely this is the case as vocalist Sonia's previous band was the French Tear of Ea, but the song fits the album as the legends they sing of are the Breton legends, so there's the link to France.

Dark Waters is a very nice album to listen to, although the production could use some more attention, as I found the sound a bit cold, due to lack of bass sound. But the compositions are very strong and they have a lot of talent. Also the artwork is very nice, depicting the story of the album*. The band is yet unsigned, but I do hope they will be recognised by a label and given the opportunity to grow and develop themselves. At the moment they are working on a new album, so keep an eye on them as this is a band with the potential to grow.

[You might recognize the artwork as the same that appeared on the second Progressive DisDRUPance CD from the Die Ultimative ReviewPage (DURP) site, painted by Stephanie Law, DTP-Factory - PW ed.]

Similar bands: Morning, Nightwish, Vanden Plas

[This review originally appeared April 2003 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]


Tracklisting:
Broella (2:02) / The Boat Of The Dead (5:43) / The Chosen One (4:28) / Bride Of The Dark (4:27) / The City Of Ys (6:55) / Marie Morgane (7:12) / Le Paradis Du Couchant (4:38)

Musicians:
Sonia Porzier - vocals
Dion Smith - guitar
Rich Shillitoe - guitar
John Hoare - bass
Andy Pester - drums

Discography:
Where Angels Fear (ep) (2000/2003)
Dark Water (2003)
St. Matthieu (ep) (2003)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin UK

Added: January 17th 2005
Reviewer: Marcel Haster
Score:
Artist website: www.mercuryrain.com
Hits: 1771
Language: english

  

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