Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Ligeia - Gloria - 2004 Iron Glory Records --EC

Track Listing1. Mistress of the Night 2. Angelwitch 3. Gloria 4. Heaven is Hell 5. Walpurgisnight 6. Last Desire 7. Beyond the Sky 8. Wings of Fire 9. Light of the Gods 10. Silence

It seems like female fronted metal is the trend these days. With so many bands popping up across the globe with female lead singers, it seems like metal is starting to lose it's power. By no means am I saying that a female fronted metal band isn't powerful. Simply look at groups like Acid, Chastain, or Warlock for some powerful women, but for the most part today's version of metal maidens isn't a far cry from your local opera house. Bands like Nightwish, Evanescence, and Within Temptation are really getting out of hand, totally destroying the heavy metal ideals set in stone by our forefathers. Metal is about energy and power, not a weak dose of gothic metal put to keyboards with a pop singer.

Thankfully there are still bands around like Chastain and Doro, but also some newer acts like Valkija to help lead the way for a powerful heavy metal invasion led by women. Ligeia pick up the torch with their sophomore release "Gloria", courtesy of Iron Glory records. This is a stellar album of classic female fronted power led by the angelic pipes of Daniela Unglert. These Germans strike out in a new destination, one that picks up the pieces of the old and combines it with today's vision of modern power metal. Most of "Gloria" lies in the 80s, with easy references being Warlock and Doro. Unglert is a very clean vocalist, slightly polished and very stirring with her calm and soft register. Where most of today's maidens keep that register throughout, Unglert does manage to mix in some more powerful notes, bringing to mind Doro in her early years, with the simple ability to caress a listener with soft passages, only to turn them into a warchild with sharp, powerful pipes at the first convenient stop.

Most fans of Majesty, Gun Barrel, and Pegazus will find plenty to like here, with most of "Gloria" being fantasy based with plenty of mid-tempo cuts that stick with elementary groove and a few key solos. A bit of melody creeps in on each song, but for the most part Ligeia are about groove and wicked storytelling. "Mistress Of The Night", my favorite track of the album, is a sure fire anthem to lift your fist in the air. With an easy to reach chorus, a medium pace, and a nice hook, most fans will immediately get sucked in. Other enjoyable cuts for me are the Grave Digger styled "Light Of The Gods", the anthem "Angelwitch", and the fast and furious romp of "Heaven Is Hell". Some slower cuts exist with "Beyond The Sky" and "Silence", but even these songs are a far cry from the MTV goth, keeping some consistent power even with the amps turned down. Highly recommended for fans of Hellion, early White Skull, Valkija, and Warlock.


--EC 02.10.05