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Beseech > Souls Highway > Reviews
Beseech - Souls Highway

Pleasant but highly forgettable - 67%

lukretion, March 23rd, 2024
Written based on this version: 2002, CD, Napalm Records (Digipak)

Souls Highway is the third LP released by Swedish goth metal/rock act Beseech, their first for Austrian record label Napalm Records. The band feature the typical line-up of the genre, with two vocalists – male and female –, two guitars, keyboards and bass/drums. However, the male vocalist’s approach is closer to the Scandinavian goth-rock crooning universe (The 69 Eyes, HIM, Sentenced), which somewhat differentiates Beseech from many other dual-vocalists acts of the time (“the beauty and the beast” style). In fact, Souls Highway could be described as a blend between the traditional Scandi goth-rock sound and the female-fronted goth/alt rock of bands like Lacuna Coil and (mid-period) The Gathering.

The focus of the songwriting is mostly on the vocal melodies, with the other instruments providing a pleasant, but inconspicuous textural background. The guitars alternate between semi-clean arpeggios and chugging, distorted chords, rarely venturing in any riffing or soloing (when they do, the results are now always up to scratch, as in the case of the cringeworthy, bluesy solo on “Blinded”). The keyboards are used sparsely but tastefully, with good balance between electronic elements and more traditional instrumentation. Most songs are mid-paced and feature a simple verse-chorus structure, which again puts the spotlight firmly on the vocal melodies.

Alas, here is ultimately where the album shows its faults. The two singers are competent – so no complaints there. Lotta Höglin has a really nice, warm timber, which reminded me of Anneke van Giersbergen, especially in the construction of vocal harmonies on “Fiction City”. Erik Molarin is pretty good, too, offering a convincing blend of velvet and rough edges with his gothic croon. One problem with both vocalists, however, is that they rarely sing melodies that are truly interesting - let alone memorable. Many of the melodies feel somewhat derivative, too, with the influence of aforementioned bands (HIM, Sentenced, The 69 Eyes, The Gathering, Lacuna Coil) looming larger than it should. Another issue is that the two vocalists do not quite seem to be on the same page as where to take the music – Scandinavian goth-n-roll? Mellow, atmospheric dark rock? – with the result that the songs where they sing together often feel inconsistent, swerving clumsily between sections with rather different moods and aesthetics.

Overall, Souls Highway makes for a pleasant, but largely forgettable album. There are barely any highlights to speak of, although “Fiction City” and “Sunset 28” are slightly above average, mostly thanks to Lotta Höglin’s inspired delivery and – in the case of “Sunset 28” – the touching and heartfelt lyrics. The cover of ABBA is also very decent, providing a slowed-down, leather-bound take on their classic “Gimme Gimme Gimme” (this song can be found only on the limited digipack edition). The remaining songs pass by with little notice, and so does the album as a whole.

Not as great as it's made out to be - 65%

PorcupineOfDoom, April 8th, 2015

I have to echo what those before me have asked and question why this band isn't more well-known. It isn't particularly original, and I've definitely heard better gothic bands, but it's everything that people love about the most mainstream bands in the genre plus some more. For example, take Lacuna Coil. Beseech do a very similar thing to them, but something about it just makes it so much more listenable.

So, why is this not the best gothic album I've ever heard? Simple, because I've listened to Only the Beginning by Infinite Tales. But in all seriousness, this album lacks the originality that Infinite Tales had with their gothic melodic death metal. Like I said, it's very similar to something by Lacuna Coil, a band that never really appealed to me. To Beseech's credit they make the stuff decently enjoyable, but at the end of the day it just doesn't have much about it that I find very exciting. No epic guitar solos, no unique moments of inspiration from the keyboard, nothing that sets it apart from the tidal wave of average gothic metal bands.

Normally the vocals are a large part of defining a good gothic band from a bad one, since they're the main feature of most bands. Here though, I can't say they're that great. They do the typical thing of mixing male and female vocals, although unusually they both solely use clean vocals. Maybe if they were done to a higher standard in a different band it'd work very well, but the female vocals are just kind of average and the male vocals just piss me off. The guy hardly sounds like he's singing at all, just kind of talking quietly to the point that he's barely audible at times. Yet he manages to breathe louder than any vocalist I've ever heard, which annoys me to fuck.

The band sound like they're relying on crafting an atmosphere, because the musicianship itself is rather simple. Somewhere in the background a guitar drones away, although not very noticeably. The drumming is basic, slow and adds nothing. That leaves the keys and occasionally a second guitar to lead the band, a method that sometimes sounds like it's working but is quickly ruined by everything else that's going on. Listen to the start of Sunset 28 and you'll get the idea. It sounds like the band will finally go somewhere, but then the song never really progresses. A Last Farewell does a similar thing. It's like they've got an idea but don't know how to develop it so they keep it in its most basic form.

Basically, it isn't bad but it's not really good either. After hearing great gothic albums this one seems like nothing, another album that you'll listen to once and then forget about. I know that I won't listen to anything else by the band after this one.

Wow! Can they ever craft a great melody!!! - 90%

WitheringToSerenity, May 6th, 2004

Beseech's "Souls Highway" is a well crafted, catchy goth/pop metal album which would certainly turn heads if it was given a decent amount of exposure. Certainly not consisting of the most original formula, clean/rough male vocals, touching female vocals, guitar, keyboard and the typical rhythm instruments. Lacuna Coil anyone? The thing is these guys manage to pull it off and sound completely different. Incredibly catchy and easy to digest, not quite as heavy and I would say much more polished effort than anyone has managed to produce in this genre.

Although the male and female vocals are typically shared, what really stands out is how Erik, the male vocalist has just as many memorable vocal passages(Between The Lines) as the passionate female vocalist Lotta Hoglin. Does an excellent job of alternating rough yet also polished Peter Steele-esque vocals with more of a singing approach. A force to be reckoned with in a dual vocalist band? What has this world come to! Lotta's vocals are very well done as well but in the female spectrum not anything particularly earth shattering. Very fitting and quite unique style in her own sense though.

The sound is an excellent blend of electric guitars(distorted very well recorded), acoustics and occasional flourishes of keyboards all produced crystal clear. Not the heaviest sounding band but that was never Beseech's intention. They have produced some of the most memorable songs in their genre that can easily give Lacuna Coil a run for their money. If you can get past the instant accessibility, lack of heaviness and simplicity in the music it is truly an excellent record. Each song is essentially unique and very well constructed with great hooks without sounding generic like your radio friendly dime a dozen flavour of the week bands. Currently one of my favorite albums and only gets better every listen. No skip tracks. Highly recommended for anyone into the female fronted rock/metal scene.

Favorites : Read Between The Lines, Blinded By Fear, Sunset 28

Goth Metal Masters - 100%

HarvestMoon, May 8th, 2003

First off, I have to say that "Souls Highway" is one of the most underexposed albums of 2002. Beseech has hovered on the fringes of the Goth Metal radar screen for a few years without ever really drawing attention to themselves. Then along comes "Souls Highway" and I'm asking myself why they're not mentioned in the same breath as Lacuna Coil, The Gathering, and Amorphis? This disc was a fixture in my CD player for two weeks straight, and still gets a turn almost daily. Sure, it's the Spring Equinox, but this album is what I consider the perfect soundtrack to a crisp autmun night spent in a candlelit room gazing out the window upon the full moon.

"Souls Highway", Beseech's third studio album released by their third label, is a superb collection of 10 melodious tales of dark romanticism. The sound presented here is somewhat different than their previous efforts. Former frontman Jorgen Sjolberg possessed a gritty baritone that could be compared to Ville Laihiala of Sentenced. Erik Molarin, who makes his debut on "Souls Highway", has a deep and delightfully sinister voice much akin to Peter Steele of Type O Negative. While female vocals were a part of the mix in the past, they tended to be treated more as an accentuation than as an integral part of the melody. Lotta Hogin's part has evolved on this release to comprise about half of the vocal deliveries on the album. She's either providing a magnificent compliment to Erik or she's taking the lead - think Type O Negative with accompanying female harmonies. Bessech has really hit upon a formula that works.

It's very hard for me to pick out one, two, or even three songs to discuss for this review since every single track is worthy of mention. I've described the overall sound of the album, but every song introduces some little nuance or slight shift to keep the listener immersed in the ambiance created by these seven Swedes. I will say that above all, I find "Between The Lines" to be my favorite cut. The guitar and keyboard interplay is awesome, and the melody created will certainly stick with you. Speaking of keyboards, they are ever-present on "Souls Highway" but they never overwhelm. They float just under the surface, providing just enough accent to both the vocal harmonies and crunching guitars. The title track is the heaviest tune on the disc and is where Eric displays his great range of deep, clean, emotional vocals. "Gimme Gimme Gimme", Beseech's tribute to fellow Swedes ABBA, is also worthy of mention. The song is, in one word, excellent. They've done the best Goth adaption of a popular mainstream song that this reviewer has ever heard.

So, I'll stop salivating long enough to say that if you're a Goth Metal fan, or a fan of any genre of atmospheric metal, "Souls Highway" is a must have album. You will not be disappointed"

(Review from http://www.harvestmoonmusic.com)