Fireworks U.K.

Forgotten Tales - A ll The Sinners

Female-fronted melodic symphonic power metal, this time from (hallelujah!) Canada . Hailing from the city of Quebec , the band members were early adherents of European power metal and formed a tribute act to this type of music. Having opened a concert for Nightwish in Montreal in 2000 (they have subseguently opened for Edguy and Gamma Ray), they began to write their own material and debut album ‘The Promise’ appeared in 2001. ‘All The Sinners’ is the very mature, well-produced follow up to this and featuring the lead vocal talents of Sonia Pineault who has a very strong and clear voice, but straightforward rather than operatic in style, more Lana Lane than Tarja Turunen. I have noted that it is ideally suited to this type of metal and that her performance comes over equally assured on both the high octane and less frenetic material.
            Most of the band members have had some sort of formal musical training, and this definitely shows in the overall performance. Keyboards are provided by Frédérick Desroches, and there is predominant use of a harpsichord which gives a rather baroque air to proceedings, especially introducing tracks such as ‘Fairytales’ and ‘My Soul’. However, the harpsichord is often quite far back in the mix, yet I began to find its effect to be rather tinny and somewhat annoying! Martin Desharnais is the lone guitarist, leading to a fair amount of double-tracking in the production. He handles all the various styles (speedy, crunching, melodious) with conviction, style and panache and is a great find for the genre. Pat Vir and Cédric Prévost provide an excellent rhythm section, with the latter an amazing powerhouse behind the drums and the former proving to be a solid technician on bass guitar.
            The album majors on fantasy themes and begins with the six-part epic ‘Pagan Chronicles’. A symphonic introduction with narration then tears into part 2 (‘Lady Of The Forest’) with its crunching guitars and deft double-bass drumming. Sonia’s vocal prowess is soon demonstrated here – clear, powerful, and soaring above the instrumentation. ‘All The Sinners’ is more mid-paced, with melodious guitar fills and imaginative lead guitar whilst “Wind Oh Wind” with its majestic keyboard introduction is slower again – a sort of a power ballad with heavier and quieter piano and vocal sections alternating. ‘The Message’ is a tremendously thrilling instrumental beginning in frenetic style but with a tasty mid-section that is slower and features solo harpsichord and guitar passages. ‘March For Freedom’ brings the Pagan Chronicles to a conclusion with galloping riffs and a thunderous arrangement and a surprisingly sudden ending.
            The remaining four songs on the album: ‘Three Wishes’, ‘Fairytales’, ‘My Soul’ and ‘Magic Fountain’ continue the variations in pace and structure already experienced with fine all round performances. However, it does have to be said that whilst ‘All The Sinners’ is an extremely competent and enjoyable album, it does come across as nothing particularly original within its genre. Derivative it may be, but Forgotten Tales has produced an album full of conviction, flair and enthusiasm.

Paul Jerome Smith Fireworks Magazine

May 2005

Note : N/A