Napalm
2009
1. The Art Of Loss
2. In The End
3. Now Or Never
4. When You Hurt Me The Most
5. Run Away
6. Games We Play
7. This Endless Night
8. My Leader
9. Burn My Pain
10. Let Me In
11. Street Spirit
12. A Part Of You
13. All I Know
Originally Stream Of Passion was yet another Arjen Lucassen project band, but strangely after he lost interest and unceremoniously dumped the project it continued anyways. But hey, that's ok with me as I like this band more than anything else Arjen has done... granted that is not difficult.
Stream Of Passion seem to have moved in a different direction since Arjen's departure as the music here seems more dense and less minimal than the album that preceded it. The Flame Within could probably be called more typical as the guitar takes more of a front seat and the violin is still there, but more subdued. This album sounds much more like what's in vogue as far as female fronted metal gos, but I can't really fault it as it simply sounds more metal and energetic. After the first four tracks or so things do slow a bit and I find the hard hitting and energetic tunes of the beginning the best. It seems like these sort of moments are when the singer really belts it out and adds that extra something to the music. Most of the rest of the album doesn't pick up this kind of up tempo energy and settles into a more melodic mold. Still more musically involving than the former album, but not as good as this new one began.
The Flame Within does trail off after the initial punch, but I still find it a pretty enjoyable listen. Maybe this release could've used just a bit more balance of hard hitting tracks and the ones of the melodic nature. I'd recommend this to people who don't want their metal too heavy and like an album more oriented toward atmosphere. If you like stuff like Within Temptation's more mellow moments than this might appeal to you.
Highlights: The Art Of Loss, In The End, Now Or Never
Rating - 3.5/5
2. In The End
3. Now Or Never
4. When You Hurt Me The Most
5. Run Away
6. Games We Play
7. This Endless Night
8. My Leader
9. Burn My Pain
10. Let Me In
11. Street Spirit
12. A Part Of You
13. All I Know
Originally Stream Of Passion was yet another Arjen Lucassen project band, but strangely after he lost interest and unceremoniously dumped the project it continued anyways. But hey, that's ok with me as I like this band more than anything else Arjen has done... granted that is not difficult.
Stream Of Passion seem to have moved in a different direction since Arjen's departure as the music here seems more dense and less minimal than the album that preceded it. The Flame Within could probably be called more typical as the guitar takes more of a front seat and the violin is still there, but more subdued. This album sounds much more like what's in vogue as far as female fronted metal gos, but I can't really fault it as it simply sounds more metal and energetic. After the first four tracks or so things do slow a bit and I find the hard hitting and energetic tunes of the beginning the best. It seems like these sort of moments are when the singer really belts it out and adds that extra something to the music. Most of the rest of the album doesn't pick up this kind of up tempo energy and settles into a more melodic mold. Still more musically involving than the former album, but not as good as this new one began.
The Flame Within does trail off after the initial punch, but I still find it a pretty enjoyable listen. Maybe this release could've used just a bit more balance of hard hitting tracks and the ones of the melodic nature. I'd recommend this to people who don't want their metal too heavy and like an album more oriented toward atmosphere. If you like stuff like Within Temptation's more mellow moments than this might appeal to you.
Highlights: The Art Of Loss, In The End, Now Or Never
Rating - 3.5/5
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