Album Review - Benedictum - Seasons of Tragedy

Benedictum plays it hard and furious on their second album, "Seasons of Tragedy". They could be described as an old-school metal outfit that has been touched by the demons of today's high impact, glossy sound. The production is helmed by Jeff Pilson and he also guests his bass prowess on a couple of tracks. His production is clean and nearly flawless, giving the album a nice sheen while retaining some of that heavier grit underneath. Pete Wells guitar playing is amazing, his riffs are powerful but not overly heavy handed. Just a senses dazzling barrage of riffs and electricified solos.

However, the real star of the show here is the vocalist. Veronica Freeman is slipped into the vocal spot and she sounds absolutely fabulous and can *easily* stand alongside any male vocalist in the genre. Anyone that reduces her to just "female vocalist" is doing her a great disservice. One of her main influences is Ronnie James Dio and it shows. Her voice is effortlessly powerful, hitting dramatic notes with ease and just tapping into a seeming neverending well of power. Alot of female singers suffer from sounding too fragile, too operatic or "breaking" on higher notes, but Veronica seems to have no such limitations, thus delivering a strong, outstanding performance. She's a ball of fury, fangs, flames and rage whirling out.

"Dawn of Seasons" opens the album as a mild instrumental and introduces the keyboard themes that are very underused in the album. If there is a disappointing aspect, it would be that this underlying "theme" never truly comes together to tie the disc together as it was intended. "Bare Bones" hits like a hammer and features a great guitar solo from George Lynch (ex-Dokken) while "Within the Solace" slinks around as a slow burner, dark and pulsing like a doomsday "lite" Black Sabbath track.

"Beast in the Field" forces its way into the ranks as a bastard child of Queensryche's "Operation Mindcrime", the haunted wartorn pompous feel of Def Leppard's "Gods of War" and the underworldly steel of Iron Maiden's "Number of the Beast". What a chaotic combination, but one that works wonders. Just listen to the vocals and be amazed all over again. Veronica is surely one of the most powerful and attention grabbing vocals to crawl out of the woodwork in ages. The guitarwork inspires terror and she stalks the song like a great cat in the jungle.

"Nobody's Victim" lets the cat out of the bag...Veronica is an amazing singer and proves it here with the kind of strong, bottomless voice that glows with violence, power and majesty. And is still surprisingly clean throughout. What a marvel! Alongside the dark dipped raven winged guitars weaving in the backdrop and a thundering double drum assault, she sounds absolutely mesmerizing. The chorus is a sizzling centerpiece, full of melody and magnificence. It's like the best of Obsession clashed with Savatage's early work.

"Legacy" offers piercing guitars, full throaty vocals and a slippery chorus send this one straight to the heart. What will we leave behind once we are dead, gone and...forgotten? Our legacy... the impact is stunning and the chorus is surprisingly open and smooth. "Burn It Out" has a fast furious, rollercoaster feel and a thunder bumper rhythm section pounding down the stormclouds throughout. Longevity is the name of the game here as the band rolls through this in power and style. A combustible song that feels like a race that sees sleek cars careening out of control. The climax comes in the way of a dual guitar duel, axes clashing in a simultaneous unleashing of sheer electric fury.

Veronica's vocals take the spotlight in "Steel Rain", a song that could have been something from Doro's Warlock days or early solo albums. Mid tempo and powerful, you can hear Veronica just reaching into the depths of her talent and throwing it right back out in a show of effortless vocal prowess. From a throaty whisper to a wildcat howl, she hits both ends of the spectrum with equal emotion. This is the track that makes Benedictum a major contender in the metal field, as it allows all of its musicians room to just drive the tendrils of wicked sensation home and come out glowing like veterans.

There are some lesser tracks, such as the cover "Balls to the Wall", that lacks the grime of Accept's original and the sometimes confused "Seasons of Tragedy" that finds itself attempting to wind its way out of a progressive maze. The handpicked cherry of a band brought down from the tree by Craig Goldy and presented to Jeff Pilson for further shining has few pitfalls and mostly strong songs. Goldy knows a hitmaker when he sees one apparently.

Thick grooves, impressive vocals, and guitars that could strip the paint off the wall - Benedictum offers all of this and more. A flexible album that shows how 80s throwback power discs should be created in 2000s, and a real step up and a cut above their entertaining debut of "Uncreation". "Tragedy" is such a sensational smorgasboard of sounds - bits and pieces of Vescera's Obsession, "Mindcrime" Queensryche, early "Tooth and Nail" Dokken, the raw side of Savatage, the majestic magic of Dio-fronted Rainbow and the dark undercurrents of Iron Maiden - a swirling musical kaliedscope of progressive, power, melody and pure ballsy heavy metal. Surely everyone will find something here to whet their appetite and female vocals that will floor you. Benedictum offers all of this and more in the tight package of "Seasons of Tragedy".

Written by Alanna
Sunday, March 9, 2008
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Ratings

Alanna: 8/10

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