Maximum Metal Rating Legend

DesDemon The Awakening Company: Frontiers Records Release: 2010 Genre: Symphonic Reviewer: Chris Kincaid

Fans of Epica or Nightwish will dig this

Hailing from the NYC Metal scene comes the female fronted symphonic metal band DesDemon who have released their debut disc "The Awakening".

Led by the amazing pipes of their lead singer Mistress Tina with Lord Metadox (Lead Guitars), Nicholas Gati (Keyboards), Ron "Pelaguis" Porcelli (Bass) and Dan Rhodus on drums "The Awakening" is a tale of a woman's fall from grace and her evolution towards the dark side of life.

It's not really new territory as this subject matter has been hit upon by a number of different bands in this genre. Rather it's how DesDemon seems to combine a culmination of styles in their work. With songs that range from power metal speed on tracks like 'The Aquiesence of Illusion' and 'In The Absence of Light' to more goth metal form on darker mid-tempo based gems like 'A Soul in Exile' a song that also demonstrates Tina's range. Soothing one minute and able to shatter the windows the next with how high her voice can climb. Same with the twisted track 'Iago' with its tempo changes and haunting tone as she shows off a demonic growl making the song feel more like a transformation and less of a song.

While the album is short in that it's only 5 tracks the songs are epic in structure with a couple of them clocking in at the 9 minute mark. But even for the ones that are shorter they take on an atmosphere that feels as if one has just been taking on journey through the mind of a woman's breakdown and rebirth even if it is a sinister path she has chosen.

If you're a fan of either Epica or Nightwish you'll dig this album. Although I'm not a fan personally of this fusion of sound, I still have tremendous respect for musicians who demonstrate this level of musicianship.