Evil Bards. I waited for some folky extreme metal, but what I got to hear is a mixture of Scandinavian sounding melodic metal with growled vocals and gothic negativeness. Like pizza, some will love Evil Bards while some don't want them. It's all about toppings, right?

Opening with very "In Flames back in the end of 1990s" style riffing, Evil Bards soon take a turn towards different waters. And maybe too many a turn as the compositions, while all eight of them quite unprecedented, sound patchy. Presenting calm atmospheric parts unexpectedly after metallic riffing just doesn't work in my ears. The music has no continuity. Or then the lyrics, which aren't available, would make it all sound right. 'Black Clouds' is the catchiest of the songs, but clean male vocals are horrible, weak and whiny. Female vocals are better, though. 'Rose of Tears' has some folky parts among aforementioned styles. After gothic outlets, 'Introspection' and 'My Ego's Neglect' are more metal. At last! These two are my favourite songs of this bunch. Even though Evil Bards have covered some styles with this promotional CD and created compositions different from the norm, they haven't managed to present anything new.

This was recorded by the band in their own homestudio. Instruments and vocals are all audible, but sound is, well, homemade! The performance is also raw. You may want to check out the band if this kind of metal does not bore you yet. It bores me, for sure. I find it hard to take this kind of gothic stuff. It's soft like feathers, not eerie as it should be.

Reviewed by Lane
10/11/2004 16:23