Against Wind and Tide

Syrens Call is far from being the most unknown metal band from my beautiful country, however I’d never heard of it until recently when a colleague told me he’d collaborated with a guy playing in a metal band – and said guy happened to be Sébastien Paul, Syrens Call’s drummer. I just see it as a proof Chemistry may lead to anything or, the other way round, metal may lead to anything as well. So out of curiosity I looked for something from this act, soon to stumble upon its last-to-date EP. I don’t know if it’s really representative of its sound, as one always has to be very careful when drawing conclusions from such a release but, as a first introduction to Syrens Call, let’s say I’m not impressed.

As could be expected from a power/prog recording, the production is neat and clear while everything runs smoothly, gently, nicely. Just TOO smoothly actually, as while a title like Against Wind and Tide might suggest a tormented, rebellious release, it’s exactly the contrary which happens. Is it a matter of female vocals? Maybe, but this is very unlikely to be the sole reason. I’m usually very picky when it comes to female vocalists, especially from my home country, but I’ll admit the singing here is overall good, not unbearably sugary or pop-ish though the higher range might sound a tad annoying. It however sounds like all the rest here – smooth. Alright, these guys know their job. The guitars flow easily, the drumming is as sober as fluid with no double bass abuse or the likes, and everything is topped by a very prominent keyboard. It doesn’t take long to realize Syrens Call is deep into overtly aquatic themes and imagery: is this the reason why they feel compelled to play liquid music?

There’s only one really stand-out track here, the mid-tempo opener Run and Fall, with some hooking chorus and a keyboard reminiscent of old Nightwish. Not to say it’s a masterpiece (I highly doubt, for instance, this spoken ambient/ electro break was mandatory...), but had all the songs here been of the same standard this EP would have summed up to a solid piece of melodic power/prog metal. Unfortunately, they aren’t. Your Soul Is Mine and Cold Embers are both entirely disposable slow tracks, one-hundred-percent guaranteed marshmallow metal with deliquescent vocals, melting guitars and the obligatory touch of sleepy piano; knowing they’re the two longest songs it can’t be of any good. Shorter, Enjoy the Silence is also a bit faster, reminding more of the opener, but the keyboard abuse will make it slightly indigestible.

Eventually, thrown between these lackluster numbers Aquatic Coma is of a pretty different kind: pure Stratovarius worship now, the typical instrumental track which sole and only purpose is of demonstrating the lead guitarist’s and keyboardist’s abilities; nothing is lacking, including endless arpeggios and trademark Jens Johansson keyboard sound. As far as I’m concerned I’ve always found this kind of wankery rather gratuitous, but some people may like it. After all it’s a prog metal record, isn’t it?

Again I won’t draw any definitive conclusion but chances are if, like me, you need an introduction to Syrens Call, you’d better pick another release.

Highlights: Run and Fall