Amaranthe is a power metal/melodic death metal band that originates from Sweden and Denmark. Amaranthe break the traditional mold for this type of band with their vocalists. Usually when the band has a female singer, they do the clean vocals and a male band member does the screamd and growls. Amaranthe have chosen to have two lead singers doing clean vocals – one male and one female, with another band member doing the screams and growls. This simple change does make a big difference to how they sound, and helps them stand out from similar bands.
In some of the tracks, the vocals at times, remind me far too much of Ace of Base – this is particularly noticeable at several points during ”Automatic”. Given the success of Ace of Base you could say this is a good thing, but many people will see it as a bad thing – Ace of Base aren’t exactly a metal band.
This is a very good album, but I suspect that Amaranthe are too pop-like for many power metal fans, but their radio-friendly brand of power metal could bring them a lot of fans.
Amaranthe are
Jake E Lundberg – vocals
Elize Ryd – Vocals
Andy Solvestrom – Screams
Olof Morck – Guitars and keys
Morten Lowe – Drums
Johan – Bass
Track listing:
1. Leave everything behind
2. Hunger
3. 1,000,000 lightyears
4. Automatic
5. My transition
6. Amaranthe
7. Rain
8. Call out my name
9. Enter the maze
10. Directors cut
11. Act of desperation
12. Serendipity
