When City Is Quiet [Import]

Ebony Ark | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 2, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Ascendance Records
• ASIN: B00140KO74
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #526,013 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quality fem fronted product, April 14, 2009

By 

Paul Lawrence "'EJL'" (Australia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: When City Is Quiet (Audio CD)

Enticed by a glowing review in Powerplay magazine I forked out the cash for this album by French band Ebony Ark. The music is I suppose more in the hard rock and metal sphere than anywhere else though that's sad as I'm sure many mainstream people would appreciate the gentle passages many of the tunes contain not to mention the plaintive vocals of Beatriz Albert who has a voice which can at times fairly drip with sorrow seemingly at will.

Many of the tunes are relatively atmospheric and fans of female fronted metal will find plenty to admire here as many of the tunes are guitar driven and a whole range of lyrical concerns are addressed. Though perhaps, once again, more mainstream fans of female vocal music would also enjoy this stuff rather than the endless 'he loves me, he loves me not' fare they have to put up with. And it goes without saying goths will probably lap this up from the cover art to the last note. Speaking of notes, as I said this is guitar driven stuff and there are some uses of rougher male vocals in a few of the tunes and as befits this kind of music there are a bunch of keyboard and studio tricks employed to craft the album.

Production is as you'd expect fairly flawless and clear but unlike many other bands within their time and space Ebony Ark have managed to produce a clean sounding record that doesn't small as sanitised as your local hospital. Which is nice as coldly clinical techno clatter grates fairly quickly and at times repels its audience. The package includes lyrics to the whole shebang and certainly numbers sung in French are pretty rare in my CD collection, so the number 'A merced de la lluvia' was an enjoyable novelty for this listener, not that I have any idea what they are singing about. And that's not a dis, after all in Doros' Fur Immer I've only a vague idea what she is on about too!

Take a chance if you can afford to on this nicely achieved slice of atmospheric wattage that washes over you. 4.5 stars here dear readers!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 3.5 stars - Impressive, but it still leaves me cold, January 13, 2010

By 

Justin Gaines (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When City Is Quiet (Audio CD)

2008's When the City Is Quiet is (I believe) album #2 from Spanish gothic/progressive metal band Ebony Ark. A relative newcomer to the female-fronted metal genre, Ebony Ark combines Nightwish-style progressive elements with Lacuna Coil-style heaviness and powerful, decidedly non-operatic vocals courtesy of Beatriz Albert, who served some time in Dark Moor previously.

On paper, I should love this album. It's heavy as hell, has a good sense of melody, solid songwriting, and Beatriz Albert has a great voice that conveys both power and emotion. They even throw in some token male vocals (similar to Lacuna Coil's Andrea Ferro) on occasion. For some reason though, I just can't get into When the City Is Quiet no matter how many times I spin it. The songs all blend together and when it's done I can't think of a single memorable melody or chorus. Maybe it's just me, but Ebony Ark just doesn't move me the way your average Nightwish, After Forever or even Edenbridge album would.

I'd still recommend Ebony Ark if you're big into the whole female-fronted metal genre. They're really good at what they do, even if what they do isn't terribly original. They're probably not at the same level as Nightwish, After Forever or Within Temptation, but they're a step above the likes of Majica, Tular, and Delain.

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed after loving their first album, October 26, 2011

By 

S. Schultz (IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When City Is Quiet (Audio CD)

I was familiar with their first album "Decoder," which I absolutely love, and was ready to be blown away by this album.

Nearly every song on When The City Is Quiet rubs me the wrong way. Let me explain. The music is awesome, the composition is very good, the production is fine. The problem is that the singer does this portamento thing between notes ALL THE TIME. It sounds like how people sing when they are mocking country singers, or when they are trying to be too cutesy, or on Broadway. It has limited application if used SPARINGLY, but it certainly has no place in this genre of music. And on this album it's pretty constant, almost every other line of every song that she sings.

If not for that, the album would easily be 4 or 5 stars. The only reason I could even finish this album is because I was trying to ignore her voice and just listen to the music, which like I said, is very good. And that kills me because their first album "Decoder" was so awesome and I loved her voice.

(My apologies if "portamento" is not the correct term here, but I think that's right)

Let's walk through the first song, "If Only":

Nice fading in intro, a good way to start the album. Then it kicks in with some fast drums contrasted with slow and moving synth. Awesome! At 0:36 the rhythm guitar takes the lead and sets the stage for what has potential to be a great song. Vocals start at 0:57.

Around 1:17 it starts sounding bad. It's not portamento (yet), but it doesn't fit. I'm starting to lose faith at this point. Ok, ready for the chorus?

(portamento marked by asterisks around the letters/syllables)

Her*e*

If *o*nly the *su*ffering of children

*I*f only the wars 'd nev*er* been

If *o*nly the lies never blind us

I'm waiting for answers still

UGH what was that?

I still had hope, however. On to the next song, "Ecstasy". Let's jump to the second verse:

Wax, falling *d*own like *tea*rs

Your curves are all I need

Surrender purity

And give in...

Come, rip *my* soul

My aching fears

There's no time left

Just bite my lips

Don't wanna be alone *ri*ght now...

etc.

I dunno, I see this album has gotten some good reviews so maybe I'm the only one who noticed this or cared about it, but it was really a deal-breaker for me.

Don't misunderstand; I think the singer is a very good singer. I just don't like the portamento (or whatever it's called) techniques used throughout this album.

If you can ignore that, this album is pretty good. Especially the title track. I'll probably only listen to this album occasionally and maybe it will grow on me, but as of right now, I'm not really feeling it at all. "Decoder" is still on regular rotation in my playlist, however.