Skylark - The Divine Gataes Part III Last Gate (2007)

Skylark - The Divine Gataes Part III Last Gate

First off, when I first heard this album, I wasn't too much into power metal. I was in a period where I mostly listened to death metal and post-rock. Yet, this album just stroke me, in a way other modern melodic power metal bands like Sonata Arctica, Arthemis and Rhapsody failed. It had the cheesy elements and the poppy chorus that made me despise its genre but it had a kind of unique charm. I'll try my best to explain it.

The keyboards. The keyboards, just like pretty much in any other ESPM albums, play a very important role. However, they are not abused and used like a cheap orchestra back-up. They have substance. The keyboardist, a guy who apparently only has one t-shirt (that red Maiden t-shirt), seems to be the one who writes most, if not all, of the music. Well, I have to say that he did a very good job, creating catchy melodies and sing-along choruses but not going over the board and making rather cheap movie soundtrack. His melodies, to me at least, aren't the annoying pop kind but rather soothing or pumping you up, depending on the situation. The power metal here is executed just like the granddaddies of the genre Iron Maiden and Helloween. This is a good thing.

The "rock" instruments. Well done. Very well balanced with the keyboards. The guitar sometimes take the lead and switches with the keyboards. Otherwise, it plays power chords in the background, providing the metal part of the music. The bass and the drums are pretty dynamic and accompanies the lead instruments.

At last, what sets Skylark apart from the other bands, the vocals. The lead vocalist Kiara is, of course, a girl. Now, lately, it seems to be a trend in metal to have a lot of female-fronted bands, most of the time symphonic bands, to lead the scene. Nightwish clones have been the "shit". Skylark doesn't sound jack shit like Nightwish. Kiara doesn't sound operatic (Tarja) nor wannabe operatic (Anette). Her voice is just normal clean singing. Sometimes it feels like she's not putting enough emotion in it but it still works. Some may say it feels too poppy. Well, I say that 1) that's how girls singing sound 2) it's processed through crapload of programs so it's not pop.

Overall, it's a quite epic journey to the heart of power metal: all the cheese, all the catchiness, all the princesses there can be. Skylark pulled this off very well! There's also a lot of variation in the album, "standard" power metal songs (The Scream, Soul Of The Warrior, Dying Inside), fast ones (Hurricane, All Is Wrong) and a love ballad (Believe In Love). Well so? Try it! You'll probably like it if you're into power metal. If not, well, I like it no?

copas from http://www.metal-archives.com/reviews/Skylark/Divine_Gates_Part_III%3A_The_Last_Gate/167704/

Tracklist:
1. Intro     00:35
2. The Scream     06:24
3. Soul of the Warrior     05:48
4. Dying Inside     04:00
5. Hurricane     01:35
6. Believe in Love     05:46
7. All Is Wrong     06:17
8. Time     03:46
9. The Heaven Church (New Version)     04:17
10. A Story Not to Tell     05:26
11. Mt. Fuji (Electric Version)     04:08
12. Mt. Fuji (Acoustic Version)     05:02

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