(Progressive/Power Metal) Asylum Pyre - Natural Instinct? - 2009, WavPack (image+.cue), lossless

REVIEW FROM WWW.METAL-TEMPLE.COM:

I wish ASYLUM PYRE had a chance to read this review because I want to say certain things to them, the ones I will share with you. Before I sit down and review a band and after I heard the album a couple of times I do a meticulous homework, I browse them through the Net, everything I can find, reviews, history anything. I did the same with ASYLUM PYRE; many were in French as the band is French, but hopefully French is one of the many languages I know well.

So…dear ASYLUM PYRE, do not rest on the epic reviews you have received about "Natural Instinct?", there is a far greater road before you and there are bands also before you that cannot be passed with only beautiful vocals, experimentation in the sound and social oriented lyrics. True, your lyrics are amazing and show much care, especially about nature and people, true Carole must be the best female singer no one has ever heard or saw? But true…BUT…SIRENIA, KRYPTERIA, WITHIN TEMPTATION, ELIS, NIGHTWISH, EPICA, MIDNATTSOL…shall I go one? Shall I do a cross-genre reference? No I think all who read this will get what I want to say, and the above bands are still active, there are also the inactive bands that have left their mark.

"Natural Instinct?" will please all those who are fans of progressive/symphonic Metal totally. As I wrote above Carole must be one of the best voices I heard in a long time and her vocal range is also great, a very fitting voice to the whole musical play style of the band. She can take you with her voice and travel you through the small truths that the lyrics speak of.

The rest of the musicians form a well bound band that knows how to transform feelings into music in such a way that some songs travel the listener to magical places. The progressive part is that there are undertones of world/ethnic music inside their playing style, a chance taken that proved them correct.

If there were just three bands with female symphonic vocals ASYLUM PYRE would be amongst them. Now, they must treat carefully because the female vocals in Metal are a sack of wind ready to open, and take everything with it. Over used, over saturated and many times with a bad taste.
ASYLUM PYRE is a band that has all the abilities to survive, but many times a band had a great start and now nobody remembers them.

REVIEW FROM WWW.METALCDRATINGS.COM:

Asylum Pyre is a new French band and 'Natural instinct?' is their full-length debut, which is self-released, but it has a solid production. The band features female vocalist Carole Alcantara, who has been a part of many other bands, but most have yet to pass the demo stage. She definitely has experience though, and her vocals, which alternate between soprano and normal (mid-range), are very well done. There are also some male vocals, both of the clean and rough type, but the majority of the vocals are from Carol. Sometimes both the female and male vocals are present at the same time however, creating some terrific harmonies, while other times the vocals are performed in an alternating manner. Basically, there's a wide variety of vocal types and methods on this CD.

The band's musical style is quite diverse, and I'm going to avoid listing any band comparisons, as I don't want to lead you into thinking this band is something they're not. The truth is, their music is complex and they wander into and between various styles, including atmospheric metal, progressive metal, symphonic metal, gothic metal and power metal. Yep, we get it all with this CD, but that means that the music takes some time to understand and appreciate. With exception of a few songs, the band doesn't really settle into a particular rhythm or melody, and instead offers up interesting twists and turns that demand your focus. This is not a CD that should be listened to in the background, and when the volume's loud and it has your full attention, is an emotional and captivating experience that I'm finding to be refreshing.

Some of the songs on this CD are slow, but many pick up the pace (there is a satisfying amount of speed), and there are some extra-catchy hooks, which greatly highlight some of the songs. There are also some wonderful piano parts and plenty of nice melodies, which usually aren't predictable and quickly morph into the next musical segment. Special mention must be made of the beautiful track 5 "Don't waste it" (a wonderful slow song where Carol truly shines) and track 7 "Different sides, same thoughts" (an 11-minute ride that totally pulls you in). All of the songs are excellent though, and despite the fact that this is a complex CD, it's still memorable and I can easily call it a very promising start for a special new band.