Customer Reviews

Of Wars in Osyrhia

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First of all, I want to clear up that this is a pretty good CD. For those of you wanting something to listen to other than your favorite CDs, this one will do for you. Sure, Fairyland sounds like a clone of Rhapsody, but that's a good thing, isn't it? More exactly, I find this album to be more like Rhapsody's older material, particularly Symphony of Enchanted Lands. The folk sounds are identical to something that Rhapsody would do, the choirs are the same, and the fast bass sounds are identical. So for anybody wondering, this does not sound anything like Elvenking - a band often said to be folk metal. Elvenking doesn't sound like Rhapsody at all. Its just that they play folk metal. If you didn't already know, the singer is from Dark Moor - Elisa. ...that's a girl's name, by the way.

This CD is only a year old. The production will make you shiver. If you like a band such as Edguy just because of the production, you'll love this CD. If you can't find a picture of the cover art, I'll tell you: Its not atmospheric, but it is very well done and sets the scene for happy metal. Also, the title track is an epic (11 minutes) and there is only 1 track (the intro) that is very short. The album is about an hour long. There's also a ballad, but the lyrics aren't about losing a lost love or anything. Its like Lamento Eroico and The Sound of the Blade.

So if you're not familiar with Rhapsody, how do you classify their sound? Take Dark Moor and throw in Heavenly's speed. Secret Sphere would substitute for Heavenly if you haven't heard of them. Its hard to describe the sound without saying that they're like Rhapsody. Its really a unique sound. Overall, I recommend this album to any metal fan. True metal, of course.

If you get the time, go read some of my other reviews and say if they were helpful to you or not. Thanks for reading!

I listened to a lot of European melodic/symphonic/folk metal before I found Fairyland and bought this CD. At first, I was feeling a little strange about the very unique way that Fairyland uses minor keys on this album, and how they switch between major and minor keys. If you are not familiar with the technical side of music, major keys are the ones that sound fitting and happy and minor ones sound at odds and "negative" I guess...

Fairyland has a VERY unique take on the way that they use and switch between major and minor keys, and they sometimes do it pretty rapidly in succession. At first, I didn't know what to think of this even though I was already wowed by the fantastic symphonic qualities of this album. For me, this album has just become better and better each time I listen to it. It is AMAZING.

The symphonic metal tendancies are *phenomenal* and reinforced by the absolutely riveting and fantastic chorus vocals (group/choir vocals). Fairyland's lead female vocalist is amazing, with her own unique range. She delivers the wonderfully-crafted fantasy lyrics excellently and the "power-zone" of her voice falls in an absolutely unique and wonderful range.

I always hate when I have to turn this CD off and I will buy each and every other Fairyland CD that is ever produced. This band has almost created their own genre out of a few existing ones, and has done a spectacular job at doing so. The sound of this band is VERY unique, even for a person familiar with all of the related genres. The music and lyric writing is unique, thoughtful, and excellent.

I have only great things to say about this album, and of the band in general. They are AMAZING.

First off, let me say that I rarely take the time to review a cd, but this one is worth it! Fairyland is a virtual blueprint for melodic, symphonic power metal. Excellent production, powerfull choruses and great songwriting. This cd reminds me very much of the first Rhapsody cd. It has the singer from Dark Moor, and sounds very similar too dark moor, with more (early)Rhapsody influences. Even if you can't find this cd for a lower price than Amazon, its well worth it!!

First of all, the band's name isn't so catchy. People will say "this is a lame album" just
because of the name. Forget it. Although, give this album a try, and it is really
fantastic and they deserve to be more recognized. The personal favorite track is number 3
Doryan The Enlightened. Great riffs and unbelievable tasty guitar solos.
The best of all they have a female vocalist and I really appreciate the energy she has
to pull out a great performance. If you're getting your hand on this album, then you're
on the right track. Buy this album and you'll not regret it.

When I ordered this album, I was expecting an average listening experience...but what I recieved may very likely be some of the most epic symphonic power metal I've ever heard. This band of course, can't go 5 minutes without being compared to Rhapsody of Fire, but is actually on-the-whole, faster and more epic - vocals aren't as over-done and dramatic as RoF's also. The only thing dragging this band from Rhapsody's level is the lack of true variation that Rhapsody of Fire generally has.

Now, in all honesty the singer isn't bad, but not great...but quite average. The band could use an operatic singer. But, people who yearn for more quality power metal (I hate bands who go proggressive), such as myself, will take this as-is, it's a beautiful compilation of epic tracks that will leave you with chill-bumps through at least half the CD. I enjoyed every second of the music on this album, and look forward to more from this talented group of people.

5/5 stars!

I just ordered the latest Fairyland CD, so I thought I might as well write a review on this album that I've owned for a couple of years now. When I first started searching for 'Of Wars in Osyrhia', I couldn't find it anywhere. I eventually found it on Ebay, being sold by someone in Russia. The whole thing seemed kind of shady, but I decided to go through with it anyway, not entirely expecting to see my money again or the CD. However, the CD finally showed up, and I was in for a real treat.

I don't know why I wanted this album so bad, but the urge made sense when I first put it on. It was everything I could have hoped for - symphonic, bombastic, sweeping, majestic... For a debut album, it was amazingly accomplished and the compositions were tight and fully charged.

Elisa C. Martin (ex-Dark Moor) was invited to do the vocal-work on this album. She has a very powerful voice - in some ways, quite masculine. It suits the music well, and I'd like to hear some of her work with other projects/bands. The actual production is good - a little flimsy at times, but for the most part it doesn't let down the immense scope and grandeur of the album.

If you like your metal fast, then this music is definitely up your alley - it has the same tempo and rhythmic structure as Rhapsody circa Symphony of Enchanted Lands I. The guitar work is impressive - good solid riffage and soloing (but nothing too fancy or original). The amount of layering that went into this is also quite an accomplishment. Definitely worth checking out!

Fairyland (quite a strange name for a band, but hey, its Power Metal) is similar to Rhapsody of Fire in terms of their fantasy style lyrics and their over the top usage of orchestra, drums and guitars. This album is consistently good. It contains many memorable guitar solos (something Rhapsody sometimes does not utilize), great double bass kicks, and some of the best production I have ever heard (this band may be obscure, but the production value is top notch). There are somethings that did bother me. The singer is talented, however her vocals can be a bit bothersome at times, but this is very rare. The album itself is also not quite as memorable as it could be (but lets not forget folks that this is no Maiden or Helloween!). Other than that, the album is really good. I recommend it to anyone who is into symphonic and/or power metal. If you like Rhapsody of Fire, Nightwish, then I am sure you will dig this. It is rare to find, however. Luckily, the Amoeba records in Hollywood had this album, but you may need to dig quite deep to acquire this treasure.

Now who would name their band Fairyland? This is some serious symphonic metal for you. It's a concept album that tells the story of a world that is peaceful and the gods like what they see and are content. But when there is good, there also has to be evil. So one day evil comes and good fights evil and locks it away for a thousand years. It's a combo of Biblical and Lord of the Rings mixed together. Don't get me wrong, it's a great story, great music, great cover art and the inside sleeve is good also. This is just the beginning for this story, there shall be others.

I bought this album because of the cover artwork and song titles. I was looking for something story-based, that had alot of ranges from hard to melodic and I was not disappointed. I was surprised to find out the lead vocalist was female, usually I stay away from female fronted bands, but was quite pleased with her performance. She has quite a range of vocal talents and along with the muscians of this group, they make this album a great find. Buy, listen to great harmonies and melodies and enjoy your find!

"Hello France?" "Bonjour, does any one there speak English"?

"Wee, I know it's France but I don't speak Francais"

"Ok, Ok, can't you just calm down and find me someone that speaks Anglais?"

"Oh thank God, there is someone in France that speaks English, thank you mademoiselle, thank you!"

"Yes, Yes, I'm trying to get in contact with a French band named Fairyland or their lead singer Elissa C. Martin."

"Well yes, you see they made this recording called 'Of Wars In Osyrhia', quite fetching really, lovely melodies, a strong almost heavenly symphonic epic power metal with an orchestra and choir, a masterpiece really until they let that cow sing."

"Yes I said cow. There are parts where they have this wounded cow wailing along - well almost along - with the music. I mean, it really screws up everything, I mean cows don't sing too well anyway, let alone wounded cows"

"Let's see the Drummer/bass player and founding band member's name is Willdric Lievin and the Keyboardist's name is Philippe Giordana."

"No, I don't know the cows's name. How about the Guitar player, his name is Anthony Parker and he used to be with 'Heavenly'"

"Ok, that's the number for Parker, you're sure?"

"Wee,I suppose he is Catholic, ha ha."

"Thanks oh so much, you've really been a lifesaver. Have a good life!"......."what's left of it"

"Bonjour monsieur, is this 'Fairyland'?"

"Now just a minute there Buster, I didn't mean anything by that. I'm looking for a band named 'Fairyland'. Yes I can tell, your voice is very masculine.".............."yes I'm sure your wife thinks you're a demon in bed. Is your number 94-479-02-45? Ach, I mis-dialed, sorry to have bothered you and impugned you obvious masculinity."...."chump"

"Bonjour monsieur, have I reached the band 'Fairyland'? Agent huh? Well, I have some questions about their debut - 'Of Wars in Osyrhia', can you answer them?"

"Well, sir first I want to tell you that the record is very pretty with the men's choir and all but how come the production isn't better, I mean sometimes it sounds like your lead singer is singing in the next room?"

"Oh, I see, it was recorded in an Orthadox Synagogue and Elissa was singing from the balcony. Strange place to record an album wasn't it? Hummm, the band played a barmitzvah just before the recording session."

"Well, let me ask you this, are you the cow's agent as well? ...... You know, the wounded cow that wails and moans when the wonderful men's choir sings. It's very distracting. ......Wait a minute that can't be Elissa, I remember her from Dark Moor, she's pretty good, at least she used to be. Are you sure there's not a wounded cow? I promise I'm not from the Humane society." ......No I'm American! ......No I can't help who is my president any more than you can help the bum you got"

"Hello, hello. SOB hung up on me! French!

CONCLUSION

So there you have it, the mystery of the wounded cow goes unanswered. In all fairness, the music is, as I have mentioned quite good not unlike a Rhapsody, Freedom Call or Kamelot, mostly speedy, sometimes slower and more varied like tracks 1,4,7,10, symphonic power metal with lots of great background singing from the mens choir but the singing, as my son would say, sucks, wounded cow and all. Final Rating: Music - four 1/2 stars, Singing - one star, Production - three stars, Band name - one star, Average - weak three stars.

Track Listing: Intro ***** Ride With The Sun **** Doryan The Enlighted **** The Story Teller ***** Fight For Your King **** On The Path To Fury **** Rebirth ***** The FellowShip **** A Dark Omen **** The Army Of The White Mountains **** Of Wars In Osyrhia ****

The above ratings pretend there is no wounded cow.

Authors Note

I have made this observation before - some of the most melodious bands I have encountered seem to come from France.