Amanda Somerville’s TRILLIUM – Tectonic (2018)
TRILLIUM, the metal project launched by American-born, Dutch-based singer / songwriter Amanda Somerville, will release its sophomore album, “Tectonic“, on June 8 via Frontiers Music.
Somerville is well known for her collaborations with various high profile European bands like Avantasia, Epica, Kamelot, and After Forever, to name a few. And let’s not forget her amazing musical partnership with Helloween vocalist Michael Kiske under the Kiske/Somerville banner.
Amanda’s husband and musical collaborator Sander Gommans (After Forever) play all guitars and bass, plus there’s also After Forever André Borgman on drums, so expect fine musicinaship.
I think opener ‘Time To Shine’ (check video below) gives you a good idea of what this new Trillium album is about: energetic songs with lots of melodies, riffs, solos and, of course, Amanda vocals a centre role.
Expanding that a tad more, you can expect mixed pacing, with tempos from steady melodious metal to light poppy sympho and even a bit of hard rock. Also, the rhythm section delivers plenty of groove, and the bass line is significantly heard in most songs.
As a whole, the album is entertaining, but here’s a few song highlights to pique your interest.
Something of personal inspiration comes with ‘Time To Shine’ and ‘Stand Up’, both rather uplifting melodious metal songs. The latter song offers bracing riffs, rock groove, and a killer chorus.
With ‘Nocturna’ you get something of an anthem, where light parts, often with the vocals, intersect with more heavier moments. Within ‘Shards’ you’ll hear almost all those aforementioned musical elements mentioned, but most notable is the keen hard rock pump and the sharp guitar work.
The album closes with a light sympho ballad where Somerville sings mostly over piano, sending chills down your spine.
On this second Trillium installment the unique voice of Amanda Somerville is only one aspect – although certainly an important one – that makes “Tectonic” a strong album.
With its solid songwriting and good musicianship this a really fine mixture of female fronted accessible melodic metal, hard rock, and a bit of sympho flavor topped by a contemporary production which lets the songs breathe.
Strongly Recommended
01 – Time to Shine
02 – Stand Up
03 – Full Speed Ahead
04 – Hit Me
05 – Fighting Fate
06 – Nocturna
07 – Fatal Mistake
08 – Shards
09 – Cliché Freak Show
10 – Eternal Spring
Amanda Somerville (vocals)
Sander Gommans (guitar, bass)
Erik van Ittersum (keyboards)
Andre Borgman (drums)
Mark Burnash (bass on track 3)
PRE ODER:
www.amazon.de/Tectonic-Amanda-Somervilles-Trillium/dp/B07BX7DPL3
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