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Benedictum – Seasons of Tragedy Locomotive Records – 2008 | |
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"Burn It Out" would make a great single for the band. The lyrics and music propel forward like a launched torpedo. Freeman is incredible balancing mighty vocals and screams with moments of soft, teasingly sexy talking. I love the energy Pete Wells creates with his guitar. Bass, drums and guitar create a dark, heavy groove in "Bare Bares." Veronica Freeman sings in a calm voice at times and then switches into her Ronnie James Dio-like accenting, which is awesome. She caresses your ears one second and then rips off your head the next. This woman is dangerous and lethal with her voice. The moments where the music all drops out but the keyboard, allows Freeman's voice to stand almost naked, is a brilliant choice by Producer/Engineer Jeff Pilson. Then when the bass goes off and then the guitar joins in, it works wonders because each individual part gets to shine and be heard. I was banging my head and jamming to the wicked opening riff of "Within The Solace." Paul Courtois' drums are outstanding and I dare say Mike Portnoy-like in approach (the highest compliment I can give a drummer). Freeman is a juggernaut singing out vocals that are intended to rip out your throat and then for a few seconds she softens up before going for the kill. Wells' guitar is dead perfect complimenting the target the band is aiming at. "Beast In The Field" is the first song I ever heard from this powerhouse band and represents them very well. Tony Diaz creates a movie soundtrack keyboard line that is met up with vicious guitar riffs & drums before Freeman screams her way into the track. When I first heard this song I couldn't tell if the lead vocalist was a man or a woman. I don't say that negatively but rather the vocals are done with so much power and authority it's not obvious. Then when I discovered they were done a by a woman who's stunningly beautiful, I was even more impressed. I like when Veronica backs off the power to let Wells kill it on guitar. Not every guitarist is able to express themselves with solos. In today's music, It's a rare that a player can express with emotion, speed, power and technique. Pete Wells accomplishes all these things easily. Freeman growls like beast at the end of the tune. But truthfully the beast is BENEDICTUM. This band f#^ing ROCKS!
I love the track "Legacy." The keyboard riff is catchy and sets up a pattern for the other band members to support it with driving instrumentation. Freeman is back with a vengeance. Wells riff 1-minute 18 seconds in is just killer. With Paul Courtois laying down a foundation of double bass, Wells rips it. The way I see it, Freeman & her boys are making their legacy with this album. Pilson does another brilliant job engineering this track with instruments falling in and out of the mix to musical perfection. The soft piano part at the end leads you to believe the next track might be softer. But Benedictum isn't about to let that happen. In "Nobodies Victim," Veronica Freeman comes in even stronger (if that's at all possible) telling the way it's going to be. Freeman notifies us of how it's going to go down, that she's getting stronger and refuses to be a victim. I damn well believe it. Freeman sings this with so much conviction and strong willed attitude, you'll be convinced and might even be afraid to think otherwise. Pilson is an ace behind the recording controls again as the start of Benedictum's awesome rendition of "Balls To The Wall." This band gives Accept a serious run for the money. Pete Wells version of the riff made famous by Wolf Hoffman, is HUGE and NASTY. No weak singer would dare try to duplicate Udo Dirkschneider's intense approach but Veronica Freeman has no fear. The girl accents her stellar voice with a tint of evilness that would make Udo grin from ear to ear. Courtois kicks out the beat again and you guys will honestly go nuts over this re-imagining of Germany's second most famous Metal band from the 80s. Bravo! The tenth track "Steel Rain" is a beautiful change of pace where Freeman's softer side of her voice is a wonderful contrast to her other vocal approach. But don't kid yourself. This song still has power and aggression. In some ways, the softer opening minute or so makes Wells' riffs even more intense. But this is really the platform for Freeman to juggle her multi-dimensional voice. "Seasons Of Tragedy" rounds out the CD and gives the band the opportunity to explore eleven-minutes worth of progressive, atmospheric metal that explodes with Wells detonation of guitar, Courtois' drumming, Tony Diaz's crazy cool Helter Skelter keyboard lines and Chris Shrum's active bass work. I love how Wells changes up his approach to playing the rhythm parts many different ways within the same track. You rule Dude. With this CD and Benedictum's first album Uncreation (review to come soon), they have instantly moved into one of my TOP-TEN BANDS. Pete Wells should be talked about and given the notice that Van Halen, Rhoads, Malmsteen, Lynch, Satriani, Vai, Petrucci and Buckethead have gotten. Paul Courtois is the type of drummer that keeps things interesting and he's a talent to keep your eye on. Tony Diaz and Chris Schrum are more than good at keys and bass. Veronica Freeman is the best female vocalist I've ever heard in a heavy metal band. What I also really like about her from the photos on the band's websites, is that she's not a tattooed, pierced out, anorexic gothic chic. That look for me is played out and most of those girls are not pleasant to look at. Freeman has an intriguing look that is exotic (I'd guess American Indian) she's curvaceous and completely a drop-dead gorgeous. Plus she dresses elegantly, which is a very unique approach in a metal band. I for one dig it.
If those ingredients mentioned above don't get you to log onto Benedictum's site, check out the band and purchase their music, then you should stop listening to heavy metal and reading this site. I highly doubt there will be a better album released this year.
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