Maximum Metal Rating Legend
5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
1.5-1 Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
0 Terrible - Waste of your life and time.

Note: Reviews are graded from 0-5, anything higher or not showing is from our old style. Scores, however, do not reveal the important features. The written review that accompanies the ratings is the best source of information regarding the music on our site. Reviewing is opinionated, not a qualitative science, so scores are personal to the reviewer and could reflect anything from being technically brilliant to gloriously cheesy fun.

Demos and independent releases get some slack since the bands are often spent broke supporting themselves and trying to improve. Major releases usually have big financial backing, so they may be judged by a heavier hand. All scores can be eventually adjusted up or down by comparison of subsequent releases by the same band. We attempt to keep biases out of reviews and be advocates of the consumer without the undo influence of any band, label, management, promoter, etc.

The best way to determine how much you may like certain music is to listen to it yourself.
Band
Ebony Ark
Title
Ebony Ark
Type
LP/EP
Company
Independent
YOR
2004
Style
Power
5/25/2004 - Review by: Frank Hill
Ebony Ark - Ebony Ark - 2004 Reviewed by: Nailer

Track Listing
1. Open the Ark (overture)
2. Night's Cold Symphony
3. Stones in the Way
4. Farewell
5. Dreaming Silence
6. What A Feeling (cover)
There's a good bit of musical co-operation between a select group of Spanish power metal bands--Dark Moor, Dreamaker, Ebony Ark and Arwen to name some--from the mixing of members to helping out on songs.

Some examples:
* Ebony Ark drummer Jorge Saez is ex-Dark Moor and now plays in Dreamaker.
* Ebony Ark vocalist Beatriz Albert lent vocals to the new Dark Moor.
* Dreamaker vocalist Elisa C. Martin is ex-Dark Moor and has done guest vocals with Ebony Ark.
* Arwen member guest on Ebony Ark's CD.

Along with the comradery, you'll usually also find quite a similarity in the overall sound of the bands, but the songs on this Ebony Ark CD are surprisingly quite different from the sound of the others. Dark Moor and Dreamaker usually play a Helloween inspired power metal with some symphonic/orchestral elements and there's a steady flow to the rhythm guitar and drum work. Ebony Ark's approach leans more into progressive than power. Jorge Saez stretches out his drumming into unconventional patterning with the guitar essentially following along without playing straight ahead riffs. To the traditionalist, I am, it makes it hard to get into the disjointedness of the songs.

I do like a lot the female melodic singers out there and Beatriz Albert has a very controlled, sweet voice. She tends along the operatic more than the hard rock style of fellow vocalist Elisa Martin. The CD I have is in English, but her diction could use some more clarity.

Ebony Ark is a young band with a different sound than most other female-fronted bands, but there wasn't any hooks on this one to draw me in. Rating: 6.5 of 10.

--Nailer 05.25.04
  • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
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ALL REVIEWS FOR: EBONY ARK
TITLE
DOR
COMPANY
REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
Ebony Ark
2004
Independent
Frank Hill5/25/2004
-

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