Brutiful_ViXn
Reign In Metal
Zodiac :  Metal Reputation : 88
Join date : 2012-01-05
Location : Vacationing in Hell
 | |  STARSOUP – BAZAAR OF WONDERS (2013) ALBUM REVIEW | |
STARSOUP – BAZAAR OF WONDERS
Clawhammer PR -- Running Time - 56:28
SCORE: 5/10
“Bazaar of Wonders” is a studio project from Russian experimentalists, Starsoup, this is definitely a spit balling session of ideas, some of which they pull off very well and some leave a fair bit to be desired.
This album is set into 3 parts for me. The opening tracks “Angels” and “Ain’t no Superman” offer an 80s metal feeling- they’ve employed a traditional piano opening for a rock ballad while guitars move between a Guns n’ Roses/Velvet Revolver feeling. This is continued in tracks like “Road to Sunset”, they’re good tracks but they differ so heavily from other tracks in the album they seem a little out of place- synthed vocal melismas and saxophones feel contrived, attempts to fit the genre they’re assimilating. However this feels like Starsoup trying to find their sound.
The second strain of the album is a far newer feel, they use synths and a moodier tone- tracks such as “Past Bites” and “Bazaar”- the opening for “Bazaar” featured an orchestral mix likenable to Shostakovich- a possible hark back to their Russian roots. The mix between metal and synths fits a little better on these tracks- this feels closer to their sound, something they can move forward with and work on however more care needs to be taken on creating the synths. Pristine guitars sit next to clunky synth chords which gives a feeling of ‘so close but yet so far’.
Finally Starsoup employ an acoustic feel- the solo guitar arpeggios which open “Rumours of Better Life” are a welcome retreat into a calmer world, the vocals sit quite lusciously over the guitars and betray emotions the rest of the album doesn’t touch on. Equally “Cradle of War” has a beautiful opening, showcasing what the guitarists and vocalist can do. However both tracks could do without the synth sections.
Overall this is a mixed bags of nuts- some great moments that I hope will be carried on in their next release.
https://www.facebook.com/Starsoup
https://www.facebook.com/clawhammerpr
Review written exclusively for Brutiful Entertainment by Metal Girl In London (Gabi Huckins-Tertiuk)
www.facebook.com/gabi.huckinstertiuk
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