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Akroma - Sept review



Reviewer:
9.0

11 users:
7.73
Band: Akroma
Album: Sept
Release date: 2006


01. L' Orgueil
02. La Luxure
03. La Gourmandise
04. L' Envie
05. L' Avarice
06. La Colère
07. La Paresse

Listen to me guys and gals, Akroma is without any doubt one of the sensations of the year 2006, so please don't miss it! With the help of a lot of French musicians, Matthieu Morand, of the progressive combo Elvaron, chose to write a story based on the seven sins. If this subject is not really new, the concept of the album is at the opposite innovating and intelligent. If you like Melodic Death Metal, Gothic and Progressive music, be sure that you're in front of a little jewel!

The concept of this album is simply excellent. The main compositors of the project chose to talk about the seven sins ("sept" in French means seven). As I said before, this subject is not so new especially in Metal, but the innovating aspect of the album come with its form. Just have a look on it. We have seven songs, each songs talk about a futurist world with on each songs a story related to one of the seven sins. Each songs use a different musical tonality and the length of each song is equal to seven minutes. On each song you have a guitar solo and Mathieu and the other members of the band chose seven different guitarists, Alex Hilbert of Nightmare, Pascal Lanquetin of Carcariass, Nicolas Soulat of Outcast and etc (just have a look in the line up!) to play those soli. It's new and I don't remember that a band tried to do something like that before? I really think that the idea is great.

Musically speaking, Akroma mix a lot of different influences. On a side, the music has the class of a band like Misanthrope but with in additions, some classical instruments (violin, flutes etc) a la Haggard, the anger of a band like Furia and finally, some Progressive touches. This mix of Melodic Death with classical and progressive music is great, and for sure some of you will love this release if they like "Un Larc De Larmes Et De Sang", second album of the French combo Furia, especially when know that you have also some female vocals perfectly done by Adeline Gurtner (who was also the female singer on "Un Larc De Larmes Et De Sang"). The music is original and intelligent, the lyrics (in French) are well done and the whole concept of the album gives something new to the listeners, finally?

I didn't find a lot of problems on, this release excepted maybe, that it was probably better for the band to write the lyrics in English to touch al lot of others potential fans. The way to write it (the 7 minutes, the seven tonalities etc) was not so easy, but Mathieu and Bob (the singer) found the way to write something coherent and catchy. Plus, the production, sound like artwork and booklet, is just classy and really professional. I don't know if we will have some others albums with this band one day, but if it's possible, I hope that they will as good as this one.

"Sept" is a total success for me. This new, fresh full of surprises and the musical interpretations, the arrangements, are beautiful. Even if your Metal orientations are a bit strict and classic in general, you should have a look on this release you just need to be a bit open minded. Nothing to add, "Sept" is just one of the best albums of the year 2006.


Rating breakdown
Performance: 8
Songwriting: 9
Originality: 10
Production: 9

Written by Jeff | 01.11.2006




Comments

Comments: 6   Visited by: 36 users
02.11.2006 - 17:14
Rating: 7
nb

sounds interesting, even though I dont speak french, I will check it out.
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18.11.2006 - 20:23
PrettyMao

Holy Fuck!

I am listening to them now and these guys fucking rock!

@NB lyrics aren't important when you have an awesome sound like this.... well, I generally don't find lyrics important at all for any kind of music... it is all about the sound...
----
The Mao loves you all!!!

**KISS**KISS**
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13.08.2008 - 23:12
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Written by PrettyMao on 18.11.2006 at 20:23

@NB lyrics aren't important when you have an awesome sound like this.... well, I generally don't find lyrics important at all for any kind of music... it is all about the sound...


Strongly disagree. Lyrics must have a connection between them and the music. It would be very interesting to read the lyrics and understand their way to express themselves as musicians.

And about the album... I'm listening to the Myspace and I'm very impressed. Really original and well played music. This guys really though about it
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass
Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.
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14.08.2008 - 01:52
PrettyMao

Written by X-Ray Rod on 13.08.2008 at 23:12

Written by PrettyMao on 18.11.2006 at 20:23

@NB lyrics aren't important when you have an awesome sound like this.... well, I generally don't find lyrics important at all for any kind of music... it is all about the sound...


Strongly disagree. Lyrics must have a connection between them and the music. It would be very interesting to read the lyrics and understand their way to express themselves as musicians.

And about the album... I'm listening to the Myspace and I'm very impressed. Really original and well played music. This guys really though about it


Disagree if you must. But I contend that a good musician can express the emotions he wants his audience to feel through his music alone... Lyrics are the form a poet would use to express himself...

If you had really great lyrics but shitty music, would people really listen to your music? I don't think so... Music is primary and lyrics take a supporting role. And in my eyes it is not a significant role.

Take a look at classical music. That form of music is able to convey emotions very well, without lyrics... In particular I find Pachelbel's Canon in D Major to be a very moving piece with no lyrics... And you tell me lyrics are a must in music? Again, I disagree.
----
The Mao loves you all!!!

**KISS**KISS**
Loading...
14.08.2008 - 03:56
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Written by PrettyMao on 14.08.2008 at 01:52

Disagree if you must. But I contend that a good musician can express the emotions he wants his audience to feel through his music alone... Lyrics are the form a poet would use to express himself...

If you had really great lyrics but shitty music, would people really listen to your music? I don't think so... Music is primary and lyrics take a supporting role. And in my eyes it is not a significant role.

Take a look at classical music. That form of music is able to convey emotions very well, without lyrics... In particular I find Pachelbel's Canon in D Major to be a very moving piece with no lyrics... And you tell me lyrics are a must in music? Again, I disagree.


I understand exactly how you mean with your post. I still listen a lot of bands that have terrible lyrics. But good music and.. I also enjoy Classical music as well.

I'm just saying that it's always interesting and therefore good to look at some metal bands that they make beautiful lyrics along with the music. Specially if the plot of the lyrics are as interesting as this one.

Specially for the metal genre since so many people think that we are just brainless people that makes brainless music. Good lyrics along with the music is a good proof to shut them up.
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass
Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.
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02.10.2010 - 18:07
MeTalRea|istiK

Awesome..!!
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