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Band: Godyva
Album title: Alien Heart
Release date: 11 March 2013
Label: Southern Brigade Records/Scarlet Records
Tracklisting:
01. Apocalypse Fire
02. No Return
03. Alien Heart
04. My Earliest Memories
05. I Feel You (Ti Sento) (Matia Bazar cover)
06. In Your Eyes
07. Everything Is Over
08. I Stay Here
09. Brainstorm
10. This Light
11. Apocalypse Fire II
I didn't know that in this musical fields it's still possible to make interesting things or at least to say to produce the songs that can get my attention. Godyva is Italian band formed back in 2000 and their musical output is nothing else than so many times recycled symphonic gothic metal, of course female fronted. But, like I said before they are good in what they are doing. Alien Heart is bands third studio album so far and also their most elaborate work so far.
Godyva doesn't explore anything new, they just do with perfection what they do and the result is quite satisfying, or at least two thirds of Alien Heart are. Most tracks are catchy tunes, with that typical cheesy Italian power metal precision, rather gothic atmospheres, some nice electronic synth insertions, symphonic passages and the captivating, emotional voice of Lady Godyva. The guitar work is amazing, great melodies, nice leads, even some progressive elements are here and there. I'm not going to describe how good is the drum work, strong bass lines and what certainly gives a lot of mystical depth and atmosphere are the keyboards. Lady Godyva sometimes serves with operatic vocals and she does it great, her vocal range must be wide and is a shame that she doesn't use this approach more often in the songs. Songs have a certain pop rhytmic drive, just listen to album title song "Alien Heart" for example, with addition of guest male vocalist Carmine Cristalo from Subliminal Fear and One With Misery. Yeah, it sounds commercial, but that's not the problem here. I enjoyed a lot also their remake of Italian pop hit from the 80s "Ti Sento", originally performed by Matia Bazar. In Godyva's case the song is translated into English "I Feel You" and is showing what the band is really capable. Certainly one bold move. I can't forget to mention the next song "In Your Eyes", yes, it's a pop-metal ballad that reminded me a bit to Dutch Within Temptation. This song is very emotional, well sung and piano touches do the right job and the guitar lead in the last part of the song is amazing.
Unfortunately after this song the band went experimenting on "Everything Is Over" with the hip hop/rap male vocals performed by another guest Francesco "paCMan" Bellezza (Backjumper) and this kind of nu-metal excursion sounds lame. It's like a bastard child of Linkin Park and Evanescence. Also "I Stay Here", "Brainstorm" and "This Light" don't offer anything satisfying like first six songs. It's like the band lost the inspiration, as those tracks sound predictable, emotionless and repetitive, even if the instrumental side is not bad, contrary, the composition is weak. Fortunately at the end of Alien Heart there comes "Apocalypse Fire II", the song that is in my opinion one of the highlights up here. Strong pounding drum beats, again great guitar work, almost doomy pace and gloomy atmosphere make one hell of the song.
Godyva sound quite modern, but they still stick to the legacy of the genre that was defined by the likes as Within Temptation, Lacuna Coil, Epica, Sirenia, Evanescence, Nightwish and fans of those bands should immediately grab this album, because there are some well performed hits. Alien Heart is well produced, it has kind of cliche, but still nice artwork. It's an album that stands out from many recent average female fronted metal releases.
Review written by: T.V.
Rating: 7,5/10
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