Customer Reviews

Chronicles of

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Magnificent
If Loreena McKinnet or Blackmore's Night were to create music with a mild metal edge it probably would sound like this. And it would be beautiful like this.

Australia
This is the second album in less than a month that I'm writing on an Australian Band. Surprisingly both bands have a similar sound.

Chalice
Chalice is the brainstorm of a spunky and talented soprano named Shiralee. Heavily inspired by the splendor & musical magnitude of the '3rd & THE MORTAL', CHALICE was organized by vocalist Shiralee, who wanted to create a dark, atmospheric doom Metal sound, with vocals to match the pure & angelic excellence of Kari Rueslatten. Her first recruit was Drummer - Adrian, who also has since become somewhat of a spokesman for the group. Adrian answered an ad placed by Shiralee in a music store. Mark (bass) and Sean (guitar) were recruited a year later and flutist Alana come another year later.

Although Shiralee's voice is clean and pure, it is not the equal of some of the prominent Divas such as Sharon den Adel or Tarja Turunen, However she does bring a lot more to the table. Shiralee is the bands main songwriter and Keyboardist.

SONG/TRACK LIST
1)Solitary Waves
2)Requiescat
3)The Amber Twilight
4)As Powder Turns To Dust
5)Solvieg's Song
6)Interlunar Dreams
7)Memorial Embers

The Music
"The change is made within an innocent breath
a veil around an existence
accursed with a solitary death
Dancing a line of unending decline"
"Solitary Waves" as do many of the songs, starts off beautifully with a piano intro, joined by a violin, before you are introduced to the crisp and passionate voice of Shiralee and heavy guitar works. This turns out to be one of the heavier songs on the album. Catchy verses and multiple changes in tempo make this an intriguing number.

"Requiescat" is probably the overall the slowest and least effective song. The last 50 seconds is pretty good though.

"The Amber Twilight" is a nine minute gem featuring a catchy melody and an solid double beat that sometimes has a primitive feel and some interesting guitar work. This is a song that sticks in your mind.

"As Powder Turns To Dust" is pretty much a ballad with piano and violin accompaniment except for a heavy guitar interlude at the six minute mark.

"Solviegs Song" a short, pretty interlude.

"Interlunar Dreams" is another moderately heavy song with a great chorus that sticks in your mind. This song reminds me of Blackmore's Night, probably because of the medieval feel and Shiralee sounds similar to Cadence Night on this song.

"Memorial Embers" Good guitar, good violin, good song. Special attention should be made to the two minutes that start at the 5 1/2 minute mark into the song, where an inspired piano solo precedes a skillful exchange between the lead guitar and the violin. Quite possibly the most interesting exchange of the entire album.

SIMILAR BANDS
Dreams of Sanity, Twelph of Never, Arise From Thorns(Brave), Aesma Daeva, Avrigus, Edenbridge, Beto Vazquez, Arcana

Summation
Production - Excellent
Vocals - Excellent
Music - Excellent
Composition - Very good
Lyrics - Very good
Packaging - Good

For those of you who have heard Chalice and like what you heard, their second album, An Illusion to the Temporary Real, was released in in 2001 and their untitled third album is now being edited.