STREAM OF PASSION – A War Of Our Own [digipack] (2014)

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Originally starting out in 2005 as a side project by Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon, Star One) and after multiple line-up changes since Lucassen left the band, the Dutch combo STREAM OF PASSION has evolved into so much more.
With their 4th album, “A War Of Our Own” to be released next week, that evolution continues…

Now going indie and releasing their material by themselves, Stream Of Passion is taking a quite personal musical path on “A War Of Our Own”, a 13-song, 1 hour musical journey that showcases their talent arranging and composing elaborated songs.
This band of Dutch musicians fronted by their amazing Mexican import Marcela Bovio are lumped in with the host of female fronted symphonic metal bands around these days but I think that is unfair. They have a unique sound of metal, symphonic and progressive influences mixed with a latin twist that sets them apart from the crowd.
Each song is meticulously crafted, commanded the dramatic and beautiful vocals of Bovio (who also plays violin), crunching out guitar riffs, keyboard orchestrations and a dynamic rhythm section.
From the opening bars of the first track “Monster” it is clear that a major step has been taken towards the band’s progressive leanings. Multiple time changes and huge swathes of keyboards are prevalent and in addition the latin flavours have been turned up several notches, both in rhythms and feel. It’s a real monster of a song, plain stunning and one of the highlights on the CD.

“A War Of Our Own” is up next and starts with a brief piano intro before the heavy guitars come crashing in. Actually, this song is not dissimilar to the previous one. You have to love Marcela’s voice; she’s much underrated in my opinion. ‘Natural’ is a key word to be used, there is no need to go down the operatic route here and send everything over the top, nothing is forced and it is all the better for it. This title track illustrates this perfectly with a catchy beguiling chorus and a dreamy feel about it wafting away and completely captivating.

It’s no one woman show and the hefty muscular musicianship makes this more than evident as it bangs away on “The Curse”; the drumming is bombastic and bass sound is meaty and well defined. This one has some serious head banging parts to it and along with the powerful chorus makes this one another high point in the tracklist.
The guitars still crunch out riffs in fine style and the moment where the riff kicks in the superb “Delirio” is just monstrous. One of the most inventive tracks on the album, it manages to combine latin and even jazzy touches with Spanish lyrics and some full on metal too.

Stream Of Passion has crafted a really good album in “A War Of Our Own”, where the band seems to have found a personal, distinctive own sound & style.
Quality is enforced throughout the record and even anything resembling a ballad like the lush “Autophobia” is equally welcomed especially as it has a storm very much at its heart. There is no lack of ideas, every song has its own identity, something that is going to pull you in and devour you in one way or another.
It’s one of those CD’s where the track currently playing is solid as the previous and that’s definitely the sign of a good album.
Quite Recommended.

01 – Monster
02 – A War Of Our Own
03 – The Curse
04 – Autophobia
05 – Burning Star
06 – For You
07 – Exile
08 – Delirio
09 – Earthquake
10 – Secrets
11 – Don’t Let Go
12 – Out Of The Darkness
13 – The Distance Between Us (digipack bonus track)

Marcela Bovio – vocals, violin
Stephan Schultz – lead guitars
Eric Hazebroek – rhythm guitars
Jeffrey Revet – keyboards
Johan van Stratum – bass
Martijn Peters – drums

Pre-Order:
www.amazon.co.uk/War-our-Own-Stream-Passion/dp/B00J8ITC8Q
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