Album Reviews

The Serpent Goddess · **Posted:** Thu Oct 08, 2009 4:13 pm

7/10 from Rock Sound, not too bad.

Seita · **Posted:** Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:50 am

I got my copy downloaded earlier in the week from a local store.

I'm listening to it right now for I don't know how manieth :lol:

time but I'm not counting!

It's great!

I enjoy the accurate and powerful playing, sounds, and Emily Alice's way of using her voice. She can use variation in her voice, surpassing many other vocalists who are much more restricted in what they can do with their instrument.

I'm not going to analyse the songs yet. Those I haven't heard previously still need time to sink in. But I can say I've liked each and every song by Pythia tremendously on first hear!

Those on video on Youtube were huge hits with me immediately, especially Eternal Darkness and Tristan, and I've watched them over and over again.

Having downloaded the album, I'm missing the artwork (which must be great) and the lyrics. I really wish I can get hold of those later on.

It would be great to be at the launch party. Have fun, the band and those of you who are going!

Ali · **Joined:** Wed Mar 25, 2009 6:42 pm **Posts:** 71

I'd mentioned when I first got my copy that Emily's vocals were reminding me of Lisa from Xandria on a couple of tracks, but having had a lot more listens to the album now (love it, love it, love it!) , Gary and found we'd both independently been of the opinion that there are quite a few places where Emily sounds amazingly like Kate Bush! (And I don't mean to be disrespectful of Emily in any way by saying this; I'm guessing artists probably don't like to hear "oh, you sound just like *whoever*!) Particularly on What You Wish For, I think. Anyone else noticed a similarity? I'll add that I haven't heard any Kate Bush since the early years of her career, she may be sounding a bit different these days!

tomsbfc · **Posted:** Sun Oct 11, 2009 1:21 pm

You're not the first to say that Ali so there won't be a backlash!

Lord Summerisle · **Joined:** Thu Sep 17, 2009 9:21 am **Posts:** 6

HORNET wrote:

but readers of a mag that represents boybands wiv attitude, don`t deserve you anyway.

exactly...

Like what Biff said at Bloodstock - Metal Hammer now outsells Kerrang. Just seems if you havent got a huge record company behind you K isn't interested.

Perversia · **Posted:** Sun Oct 11, 2009 4:32 pm

Well, we've all just got to hope that Metal Hammer have the sense to give the album a good review then, don't we!

And you've touched on something there. The fact that Kerrang have even reviewed the album is major considering Pythia have no major record label and haven't paid for ads in the magazine either (it just gets you more noticed normally).

Perversia · **Posted:** Wed Oct 14, 2009 2:53 pm

Quote:

ALBUM REVIEW: PYTHIA – Beneath The Veiled Embrace (Golden Axe) – One of those histrionic cod-classical technical metal bands with one of those angelically gothy girl singers, this time Mediaeval Babe member Emily Alice Ovenden takes on the role of siren. They do it as well as any of the others, if you like this kind of thing then they probably do it far far better than most we’ve heard, a little more colour and craft in there, done with a little more imagination than most. Really not our thing though, let us politely get out of here before we tell you what we really think of this classical goth nonsense and those silly lyrics and the eternal darkness and oh dear.....

From: http://www.organart.com/

What I never get is why review it if you're just going to say you don't get the genre at all!?!?!?!

Timbley · **Joined:** Thu Feb 21, 2008 5:51 pm **Posts:** 93

because daddy hates them and mummy says their special

Perversia · **Posted:** Fri Oct 23, 2009 11:12 am

Quote:

Pythia; Beneath The Veiled Embrace – Debut album from UK Kamelot-alikes proves that Britain is finally catching onto the current European metal scene. Excellent twin guitars work beautifully with Emily Alice Ovenden's classically inspired voice (there's another Euro metal box ticked!). Not quite the finished article, however there is enough on show to make it worth having and to want to see where this band go next.

From: http://www.seaoftranquility.org/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=203

Hooray! Someone who didn't say you're like Nightwish!

Perversia · **Posted:** Fri Oct 23, 2009 11:16 am

Quote:

Pythia - Beneath the Veiled Embrace (2009)

Power Metal, Symphonic Metal
Edit: If I was to make a list of the Best of for 2009 in metal, Beneath the Veiled Embrace would be the 1st album on the list, even though we have 2.5 months to go. Beneath the Veiled Embrace, although to the best album, does contain the single best female perfomance on a metal album period for 2009. Not only are Emily Alice Ovenden vocals perfect, the recording mix has her perfectly placed within the music. I am sure many bands would want to place her farther up in the mix because she is so good, but I am glad she is not.

Message to all female fronted melodic metal/rock bands: Beneath the Veiled Embrace is how female vocals should be sung and mixed on an album. NONE of the notes are missed as Emily is dead nuts on with her pitch. As a matter of fact, Beneath the Veiled Embrace should be required listening before a female fronted band records another album.

I was anxiously awaiting Beneath the Veiled Embrace as I really have enjoyed the samples I heard. Beneath the Veiled Embrace is as good as I suspected and sounds much better with a 320kb bitrate. The overall sound on Beneath the Veiled Embrace certainly will remind you of the Tarja era Nightwish at times with a symphonic/gothic power metal sound with some progressive metal influence. The songwriting seems very strong, even on the more ballad type songs. Lead female vox, Emily Alice Ovenden is awfully damn good, although not quite as operatic as Tarja. Emily has already made a name for herself in the music world for being a composer and singer for the very successful all girl group the Mediæval Bæbes. Everything sounds good on Beneath the Veiled Embrace and I am glad I found a proper download.

What has me even more excited about Beneath the Veiled Embrace is the off beat rhythms that give it a progessive feel. They sound very good in complementing the melodic portions of the release. In fact, the very "safe" song Sara (Bury Her) which was released as a single along with a video is my least favorite song. Although well done, it is too straight forward and melodic. The remainder of the songs seem more impressive to me, as the musicianship shines more and the songwriting is not quite as safe. Oh, make sure to listen to the last 1:30 of the song Oedipus. Although the first 3 minutes are a tad boring, the ending makes up for it.

Beneath the Veiled Embrace is a must listen for female fronted folks as well as power metal folks who like some symphonic metal influence that is not overblown, though. I am sure many will be happy with the off beat portions that seem rather impressive to me. Beneath the Veiled Embrace is a great debut release.

From: http://rateyourmusic.com/collection/Butterflyman/

Perversia · **Posted:** Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:25 pm

Excellent review at Metal Perspective: http://www.metalperspective.com/reviews/pythia2.php

tomsbfc · **Posted:** Thu Oct 29, 2009 1:26 pm

Yes, nice review that.

Predator · **Joined:** Sat Jun 07, 2008 4:37 pm **Posts:** 858

Great review of the album beneath the veiled embrace in classic rock. Score 7/10

shame the album is by Pythis not Pythia. When did the name change happen? Just after tom had the old one tattooed on his arm?

The Serpent Goddess · **Posted:** Mon Nov 09, 2009 6:15 pm

Can anyone translate this?

http://www.musicinbelgium.net/pl/module ... nt&id=3761

I think it's a positive review.

Perversia · **Posted:** Mon Nov 09, 2009 7:47 pm

The Serpent Goddess wrote:

Can anyone translate this?

http://www.musicinbelgium.net/pl/module ... nt&id=3761

I think it's a positive review.

It's a good review, praising you a lot and saying that the band shouldn't automatically be compared to Nightwish but more Sonata Arctica or Statovarius...talks about the thrash/death metal style etc. 4 stars and there's nothing obviously negative about it.

PYTHIA FORUM

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