Gardenian - Soulburner (Nuclear Blast Records)
This 1999 release hit me off guard at first a friend of mine at the time
played it for me with the intent that he knew I thought secretly that it was
beyond belief. In fact, it was but not right away. Erik Hawk the vocalist
who has probably the best clean voice that I've had playing in a Melodic
Death Metal band to date. There's been many of these vocal changes with
Melodic Death singers some go well with the music some destroy it entirely.
Hawk is not featured on every track but the ones he's on you know it is just
amazing him hands down.
The music here seems a bit impressive some I think actually a couple riffs
were either boring, rip offs, or just plain in the innovation category.
However, "Small Electric Space" is outstanding a song I have never been even
close to getting sick of. A lot of the lyrics here touch on Depression and
Manic Depression giving it a more dramatic type of persona not this happy,
jovial newer type of Melodic Death we see nowadays which wasn't the case in
those guys earlier days.
The guitars on "Soulburner" are pretty thick and well laid out and yes there
are clean parts but only when it is warrented and fits the musical direction
entirely. I have been discouraged by the lack of press or any type of
communication that this band still exists or not I honestly haven't a clue
if they still are around since their second release came out that's about
all that I had heard.
11 tracks of thick guitar and uptempo rhythms mixed with clean vocals by
Erik and another guest female vocalist contributing much emotion in her
voice. This to my knowledge is not their debut album 2 foot stand I believe
is but hell it'd be such a waste of talent if these guys never got big
within the Metal arena. A damn tragedy. Gardenian kicks ass hands down!
Rating: 9/10.