Sixes & Sevens

Sirenia | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 13, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Napalm
• ASIN: B00006C2Q9
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #94,365 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Meridian

2. Sister Nightfall

3. On the Wane

4. In a Manica

5. At Sixes and Sevens

6. Lethargica

7. Manic Aeon

8. A Shadow of Your Own Self

9. In Sumerian Haze

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars TRISTANIA CLONE WITH A BITE!, June 15, 2003

By 

Mr D. "Artist/Designer/Kibitzer" (Cave Creek, Az United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sixes & Sevens (Audio CD)

Former gruff vocalist, lead guitar player and songwriter of Tristania, Morten Veland, has now laid the groundwork for his new vision of the gothic-metal field. Continuing his work in the darker and symphonic genre, he has now resurfaced with his brand new collaboration SIRENIA with one goal in mind: to bring a fresh creative sound into fruition.

SIRENIA plays a mixture of gothic metal with classical influences, as well as black and death metal nuances. These musical creations have solid foundation in the powerful drums and bass and are accompanied by
driving rhythm guitars, coupled with lilting keyboards, melancholic violins and 12-string guitars. The divergence of vocals utilized are numerous, with the use of growls, screams, female vocals, (3 different) clean male vocals, choirs, whispers and samples. The songs are very intense and the atmosphere changes frequently. The lyrics are based on reflections on life, death, love, hate, mental decline in general and celibacy(joke).

At Sixes and Sevens is Sirenia's debut album but it really doesn't seem much like a debut since band leader/song writer Morten Veland recently left Tristania and was a force behind ttheir first two albums. Since Veland left Tristania because of artistic differences, he may as well have stayed, for the similarities between the two bands are eerie. True, Tristania has a little softer edge and Sirenia has overall heavier guitar work but not that noticeable, hardly worth getting upset about and starting over by yourself. And that is exactly what Veland did. On this debut album he has exactly one colleague and a new vocalist, Fabianne Gondamin (good but not the equal of Vikebe Stene from Tristania)a guest choir, a couple guest male singers and a guest violin player. A lot is going on vocally on this album, just like on all the Tristania's releases: clean male vocals, grunts, choirs, female vocals, whispers etc.

So is Sirenia a masterpiece? According to some independent reviewers it is, but I don't think so. Is Sirenia's, At Sixes and Sevens better than, associates turned rivals, Tristania's, World of Glass? Again many independent reviewers toe the line and say It's far superior, however I'm not so sure. ASAS has a bolder more lush sound, While WOG's sound is more diversified. That's a tie. Tristania's Vikebe beats Sirenia's Fabianne hands down. It's very close but I would say WOG beats ASAS by a nose, shall we say 4 1/2 stars to 4 1/4 stars

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "I concede your pain is nonpareil", March 28, 2006

By 

D. Knouse (vancouver, washington United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sixes & Sevens (Audio CD)

nonpareil: having no equal, peerless

4.5 stars. This is the album fans of early Tristania knew Morten Veland could make if his bit and bridle were removed and he were allowed to run free through the Gothic countryside. This album is essentially a purging of his ambitions without constraint. The result is an often breathtaking ride mixed with Gothic choirs, lush orchestral arrangements, snarling and clean vocals (both male and female), Black Metal blastbeats, and even the occasional ode to 1980s New Wave pop. This concoction may sound a bit strange but Morten Veland shows he is a talented alchemist, particularly with arrangements and production value, where many different instruments and vocal styles interweave to create a tapestry of exciting soundscapes. The only times that make me feel impatient are when the instrumentation dwindles to a simple guitar riff, uncomplicated drums keeping time, and maybe a wash of keyboards as background atmosphere. These moments do not last long, however, and are mere blemishes on an otherwise seemless release. "Meridian" is an excellent example, as the beginning starts off fairly uninspired, but soon accelerates into Black Metal blastbeats reminiscent of Old Man's Child. The 1980's New Wave influence is virtually everywhere but only becomes glarlingly noticeable during the slower parts of songs where the minimalistic keyboards and bass drive the song. The production on this album is superb, and more often than not, so is the songwriting. All the songs on this album are laced with a variety of instruments and vocal styles, all arranged with intelligence and care. This album is easy to recommend.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars um....., May 2, 2005

By 

deus ex mecca (Miami, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sixes & Sevens (Audio CD)

Sirenia is the brainchild of Morten Veland, formerly of Tristania. This album is a gorgeous blend of metal, goth rock, hard rock, and classical. It is not too different than Tristania, but it is definitely nothing similar. To begin, this album has guitars that blend metal and hard rock elements into it. On some tracks, it is brutal guitar riffs ripping your ear, on other tracks, the guitars are a bit mellow out with a hard/goth rock style. The vocals are intense and violent, something to make sacrifices to. The choir in the songs give it a very somber and atmospheric sound, it is very theatrical. "At Sixes and Sevens" plays perfectly front to back. There is nothing to be skipped, there is nothing that is bad about it. From the minute you put the disc in your cd player, you will be amazed at everything. The male vocals are very ecclectic combining a bit of deep growls with a gothic baritones, switching it up with whispering bass. Think Tiamat crossed with Cradle of Filth, and you have a rough sketch of the male vocals. The strings and pianos, production in general, is beautiful on this album. It is clear that Sirenia and Tristania sound familiar, but they are not. No way are they. I will stop here with comparing the two, because there is no reason to. For fans of After Forever, Therion, Theatre of Vampires, and of course Tristania, "At Sixes and Sevens" will be a beautiful addiction. Addiction, not addition. The strings here are played so elegantly. One final note, a factor that this album is probably so beautifully written is because Mr. Veland was able to "steal" musicians from a myriad of other gothic metal bands in the area. So, think of this Sirenia album and combination of all the great gothic metal bands around. Definitely pick up this album. This is a perfect blend of everything gothic metal. This album is probably the truest definition of what gothic metal is. If someone were to ask me what is gothic metal, this is the album I would shove in their face.