Review: Adyta – Rose of Melancholy EP (2009)

Adyta is the brainchild of one Joakim Severinsen and Rose of Melancholy is the band's first EP. The band plays symphonic metal with classical female vocals... no no no! Wait! Don't close your browser just yet because this band actually manages the almost impossible task of sounding a bit different to the Epica and Nightwish clones that have flooded the market in recent times.

Ok, the EP starts off in typical fashion with a symphonic intro after which the usual sounding guitars come in for the first proper track The Ophidian's Tongue. However, what is great about this album is that the guitars actually start to sound like real METAL guitars. They develop a fantastically heavy bite and have some quality riffs. In places the whole musical feel of the album actually becomes more akin to a symphonic black metal album with furious drumming over lightning riffing.

However, this is not the only way in which Adyta distinguishes itself from the crowd. The growling male vocals, courtesy of Severinsen himself, are unlike anything else I've ever heard in my experience of this female-fronted symphonic metal style. Quite honestly if you were to put these vocals into a brutal, raw black metal band they wouldn't sound out of place. They are incredibly rasping and immediately hold your attention because they are a far cry from the typical average death metal style growling heard in most 'beauty and the beast' bands. These vocals are a perfect counterpoint to the enchanting vocals of ex-Visions of Atlantis frontwoman Melissa Ferlaak, being so unspeakably brutal and horrifying it truly is like listening to Angels and Demons engaging in a singing contest!

I have to hand it to Adyta. Whilst they still fit nicely into the female-fronted symphonic metal niche they have managed to do what 99% of other bands have failed to do and actually produce a fresh sounding record which is interesting, well-produced and high quality.

Unfortunately it seems that Melissa Ferlaak was only a session member rather than a full member of the band so we will have to wait and see if her replacement is up to scratch. Fortunately, a new EP is scheduled to be released this year. Hopefully the band will continue in the direction put forward on this EP and it won't be too long before a record deal and a full album appears.

Mike T

9/10

To find out more about the band, visit their Myspace page http://www.myspace.com/adyta