Alpine Fault - Iraena's Ashes (2011)

By iurgi -


Originating from New Zealand but now based in Brisbane, Australia, Alpine Fault mixes symphonic metal and progressive metal elements effortlessly to great effect. 

Featuring, a mix of female and male vocals and a violin, Iraena's Ashes is imbued with darkness and melancholy. The songs are complex in structure and follow mostly the prog-metal template, but the addition of the violin (instead of keyboards) gives Alpine Fault a distinctive sound. 

The album is uneven but it contains some excellent songs. My particular favourites are the longest track in the album Above the Storm and the instrumental The Watcher Beneath; as well as the two singles - see the videos below.

Since the release of the album the female vocalist has left the band, so it will be interesting to see what happens with the band as most of the songs in this album use both vocalists. Perhaps, the newly released video for "Mourning Has Broken" gives us a clue?

I look forward to see what their second release brings.

Rating: Good Vibrations




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