Alesana - A Place WhereThe Sun Is Silent

Wed 9th Nov, 2011 in Music Reviews

Divided into two acts, as if it is a play or stage show, A Place Where The Sun Is Silent is a curious album. With dramatic and sometimes mysterious, poetic story telling this album is intended to be an epic, large-scale production in terms of its themes, the mood and tone of the songs. Also, it is intended to be a grand spectacle, as is evident in their music videos and the unconventional narrative of the songs.

Alesana bring not so much a new sound, but a different way of approaching their genre, with grand story-telling and wonderful film and cover art. It’s quite theatrical, with interludes of ominous narration that build into instrumental pieces. Act One: The Gate begins with The Dark Wood Of Error, kicking off with a piano tinkle before the words ”Ladies and gentlmen, please take your seats, the story is about to begin” are beamed onto the airwaves. A Forbidden Dance is by contrast, comprised of throaty growls and guttural vocals amongst head nodding pop vocals over pop rock riffs.Hand In Hand With The Damned is a cross between Hawthorne Heights and some kind of softcore rock, bringing home the goods with a rather melodic and engagingly catchy tune. The narrative story-telling adds that extra element to the album just prior to a grand build up of choir vocals and quirky screams.

Beyond The Sacred Glass follows on smoothly from the previous track, growing in tension with about a minute of build up to an instrumental, then Milke comes in for some vocals amidst a tense riffing. The guitar on this one is impressive, providing all kinds of strategic rhythm and melody. This track is also lengthy, and creepy whispers and voices abound by the five minute mark, then the band kick back in to take it out with visceral tones. The Temptress begins very pop-laden, with sincere lyrics and a narrative of eerie female voiced lulls at its middle with slow melodies to accentuate, and then the tempo picks up for quick-witted effect. The screams and growls keep coming on this track, with dips highlighting the contrast to Milke’s vocals.

Circle VII: Sins Of The Lion is a flurry of sharp and quick drums which aids a succession of vocals while Vestige begins with a rather musical aspect to it, a duet between male and female, like a carnivalesque show, which serves as more of an intermission to the record. Just over the page, Lullaby Of The Crucified is a great track, one that is notably upbeat and brimming with radio play potential. Emotive and big vocals ensure that this song is received with welcome and praise. “I will never know, why I let you go” is vocalised for some added effect. Some other spoken language serves as an interlude, and ends with a choir prior to the beginning of Act Two: The Immortal Still.

Before Him All Shall Scatter is another spoken interlude while Labyrinth begins with brilliant keys, and moves into familiar territory, building to intense heights, before falling into valleys of instrumentals. The Fiend begins ominously and the growling screams come back for emphasis, while Milke leads the song into enthusing grounds, backed by the entire ensemble who come out with gnashing teeth and melodic musical mayhem. Welcome To The Vanity Faire is quite an impressive song, which includes all the tricks utilised in previous songs on this album.

The Wanderer is exactly that, a wandering, meandering song, again in the musical duet style. A Gilded Masquerade is quite the pop laden song but with a slow, pleasant and graceful introduction, before Milke and band bring the tempo right up, and screams resound. Essentially, it traverses the usual template for pop-rock. Milke ensures the melody is upheld, and his vocals are particularly desirable on this song, while the rest of the band cater to its other half, making for an engaging and upbeat track.

The Best Laid Plans Of Mice And Marionettes is appealing from the top, an instrumental introducing some screams and growls before Milke takes over. And Now For The Final Illusion is synonymous with the epic feel of the album as a male voices the narrative of this end to the album. Further on, with what sounds like a movie narrative, a girls voice rounds up the album, with the final words a resounding “A place where the sun is silent”.