CD Review: AMBERIAN DAWN – River of Tuoni

Amberian Dawn – River of Tuoni CD
Ascendence 2008

The first thing that strikes me when I put on the debut by symphonic power metallers Amberian Dawn, is they understand metal. Title track and opener ‘River of Tuoni’ is hardly subtle with its hooky, instant opening riff – and the bands regular use of double-bass pedals, blazing solos and heavy riffs affirms that this a serious metal band.

Being from Finland its easy to compare Amberian Dawn to their more successful countrymen, but digging deeper beyond the operatic singer reveals a rather different band. The average track time, for one, is quite different from the standard of symphonic and power metal bands – where’s the likes of Stratovarius or Nightwish might favour long, epic songs, Amberian Dawn rarely go beyond four minutes. This gives the album a purer, song-based feel – there’s no looming epic story or pretension, there’s just 10 quick-fire blasts of operatic power metal.

Most importantly they’re good blasts of power metal, steering clear from the genre’s more cliche tendencies and delivering a unique flavour to a rather fine collection of songs. Certainly the second half of the album fairs less well than the first, but with hook-ladden songs such as ‘Valkyries’, ‘Fate of the Maiden’ and ‘The Evil Inside Me’ you can’t go wrong.

In a few years time it wouldn’t surprise me if Amberian Dawn were making much more complicated and sophisticated albums, with epic concepts and intricate storylines – perhaps they won’t. But what I think is certain is that when the band have written several albums and had however many line-up changes, fans will still be looking to this debut and thinking ‘Great metal, fast and to the point’, and I think that’s a great way to start a band’s career.

Tracklisting:
1. River of Tuoni
2. My Wings are my Eyes
3. Lullaby
4. Valkyries
5. Fate of the Maiden
6. My Only Scar
7. The Curse
8. Passing Bells
9. Sunrise
10. The Evil Inside Me

Website:
http://www.amberiandawn.com/