Letters From Fire

Season Of Mist is best known as an extreme metal label, but I suppose the label fall in love for The Crest. This band plays gothic metal at the extreme border of what is called today Dark Pop music. No worries, this band belongs to the metal family ... as Lacuna Coil, The Gathering or Theater Of Tragedy belongs too. The vocals of Nell Sigland (female of course) will immediately remind you Lacuna Coil. This is their debut album ... and it is a pretty good one for a start. The Crest was formed back in 1996. From then to now, the band develop their music to a characteristic sound of catchy melodies and dark guitars. The atmospheric feelings of Letters From Fire are accentuated by the female vocals - being brilliant anyway. Musically, it's the kind of music which will perfectly suit to "your-non-metal-fans-home-guest". Listen to the first track (Fire Walk With Me) or the third one (Thorn) and you will have a pretty good picture of Letters From Fire. I would have preferred a less "organic rhythm" and heavier guitars in the back to be honest, but like it is always the case with these gothic bands, the vocals are in front line to create the magic. The samplers are not that much used, even though sometimes the production is too "clear" and not dirty enough, creating an artificial sound ... but still passionate, well worked, melodic and melancholic. You like Lacuna Coil ? Then you will like The Crest, but don't expect miracles ... as The Crest have not digested yet their direct influences. May be with the successor of Letters From Fire ...