Napalm Records [Release date 29.04.16]
You might be forgiven thinking that Dutch pop metallers Nemesea were new kids on the block out to steal Delain’s thunder. But they have been around for at least 10 years although without their compatriots’ upward trajectory.
This might all change with ‘Uprise’, their fifth studio album release. Originally they were caste more in symphonic metal mode but gradually they have developed into a more straight ahead pop metal/rock offering.
Opener ‘Hear Me’ sets the scene with an irresistible urgency and a powerful build up whilst ‘Twilight’ slows the pace for the first album standout that might draw the Delain and even Evanesecence comparisons.
‘Forever’ – an early single – is another great example of the band’s anthemic and uplifting songwriting approach along with ‘Let It Burn’.
Manda Ophuis’ vocals will inevitably draw comparisons with Charlotte Wessels or Floor Jansen but nevertheless they provide the ear candy for most of these pieces.
Musically, there is a nice blend of riffage and electronica as evidenced by ‘Time To Make It’. If the pre-chorus of this song reminds a little of a sped-up Clannad’s ‘I Will Find You’, the opening verses of ‘Can’t Believe It’ bring to mind the urgency of Winger’s ‘Four Leaf Clover’ before it explodes into the characteristic big chorus. But it’s all good and the overall consistency never lets up.
It seems that the band lacked big label promotion in their formative period although their second album ‘In Control’ (descriptive?) attracted unprecedented crowd-funding in 2007. Here’s hoping that ‘Uprise’ will be just that, a new flowering for a really excellent sounding band. *****
Review by David Randall
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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024
In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections
Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024
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