TRILLIUM (Amanda Somerville) – Alloy (2011)

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American singer Amanda Somerville has been very active in the coaching, production and vocal realm for many bands like Avantasia, Edguy, Epica and Kamelot.

Following the success of her collaboration with ex-Helloween vocalist Michael Kiske on last year’s ‘Kiske/Somerville’ album, Amanda returns with a project not going by her name but by the pseudonym Trillium, entitled “Alloy”.

As she says about the album title; “The name of the album, ‘Alloy’, is symbolic and metaphorical. An alloy is a substance composed of two or more metals, or of a metal or metals combined with a non-metal, intimately mixed.

I’m a Pisces, so I’m all about duality and combining known elements – sometimes opposing each other – to create something different.

Though I’ve been working myself further and further into the metal scene, I still always feel the need to add an extra element to make it shine, bling, stand out”.

In her desire to craft a special album, Amanda has tried to assemble a ‘real band’, enlisting the team of Sascha Paeth & Miro Rodenberg (Kamelot, Avantasia, After Forever, Angra) as producers, songwriters and performers, with well known names as Sander Gommans (ex After Forever, guitars, bass), Robert Hunecke (drums) and Simon Oberender (keys).

Musically, the album title do reflect quite well what it is about, a real blend of styles.

It is a quite diverse mixture of elements that make up this alloy of an album, the songs are quite varied throughout and on top of all is the voice of Amanda Somerville which has the ability to go from tenor to soprano easily.

In terms of styles, it goes from metal to melodic hard rock, ranging from a skeleton format of drums, bass, and guitars over very lush and almost symphonic, and definitely epic, passages to mellow and progressive bridges and breakdowns.

In addition, Trillium are not afraid to make use of electronic effects giving even more textures to the songs.

It’s certainly diverse and intriguing. Opener “Machine Gun” is an interesting song with lots of atypical passages. It begins with a strange beat blended with thick riffs, then later it turns to well-paced hard rock with a lightning guitar solo.

Next “Coward” starts with staggering keyboard melodies, a steady drum beat and striking guitar riffs. This track has a dark symphonic feel yet melodic, but the touch of goth (I don’t like it) steers dangerously close to current Evanescence radio territory. It’s a curious tune and not what you expect from Amanda.

But not everything is provocative or hard to explain. “Purge” nears more traditional melodic hard rock, but still pleases with eccentricity in the bass line and quirky synths.

More pure melodic rock may be the edgier side of the very catchy “Bow To The Ego”.

Similar in accessibility is the following “Mistaken” with it’s strong groove and pleasing bass line. This is one of the best tracks on the album, very melodic in the recent Issa ‘The Storm’ vein.

“Scream It” was written with Lande, guest vocalist in mind. Beginning with a lovely orchestral intro, the song turns to a vocal arrangement committing Lande’s raw vocals against Somerville’s sweeter style, over a heavy melodic hard rock motif. A sort of beauty and the best conceptual stance.

The Euro melodic rock sensibility returns with “Path of Least Resistance”, which offers Somerville’s lighter vocals over some big drums and potent chords.

“Into the Dissonance” spreads Somerville’s smooth vocals within a symphonic/synth arrangement, over a steady rock groove. “Slow It Downs” does exactly what it’s name implies and is the closest thing to a traditional ballad here.

“Slow It Down” has a melodic midtempo. Light keys tinkle delicately with some ambient sound echoing in the background of Somerville’s vocals. Her voice gains in strength and purpose as the song progresses. A drum beat emerges, with some riffy guitar movements that pick the song up and really pushes it in the right direction.

The omnipresent Sinner / Primal Fear bassist Mat Sinner joins Amanda’s beautiful powerhouse rock range on the closing mood mover “Love Is An Illusion”, listed as bonus track.

“Alloy” represents an evolution for Somerville from her previous work, which has been more in the melodic hard rock range, this album leads us into darker waters, blending his melodic side with edgier material.

Amanda looks like she is all too ready to branch out more into the fields of heavy rock from the sounds displayed on this recording.

Her fantastic voice is the star on the album. Excellent vocal arrangements, some of which are quite complex. Sometimes the dark quality of her throat radiates razor sharp intent, but there is a softer essence to it.

The musicianship is high on Trillium, formed by skilled performers. There are plenty of solid riffs on the album, some of which are even groovy, and guitar fans can also look forward to some pretty awesome guitar solos.

The production and sound is as expected quite brilliant as it tends to be when Sacha Paeth have been turning dials for someone.

“Alloy” is a varied, dynamic and interesting album, a very enjoyable listen.

You’ve seen it first here, at 0dayrock

1. Machine Gun

2. Coward

3. Purge

4. Utter Descension

5. Bow to the Ego

6. Mistaken

7. Scream It

8. Justifiable Casualty

9. Path of Least Resistance

10. Into the Dissonance

11. Slow It Down

12. Love Is An Illusion (bonus track)

Amanda Somerville / vocals, keyboards

Sascha Paeth / guitars, bass, keys, drums

Sander Gommans / guitars

Miro Rodenberg – arrangements, keys

Olaf Reitmeier / acoustic guitar

Robert Hunecke / drums

Simon Oberender / keys

Jorn Lande / vocals on #7

Mat Sinner / bass on #12

BUY IT !

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005GK6PTO