Wedingoth, French group created by the initiative of the duo Laure/Steven, had already been noticed thanks to a rather successful first attempt. Today, the group has a new album entitled “The Other Side”. If you look at the cover artwork, we see that it is almost identical to that of “Candlelight”, we found muses in front of a huge W. Graphically if the group didn’t renewed, it’s quite the opposite about the music. Wedingoth has grown enormously; their music has taken a new turn quite unexpected. From a melodic metal symphonic, we are this time in a much more progressive register, most sought, more worked, well, simply more successful.

Line-up:

• Laure Flores - Vocals
• Steven Segarra - Guitars
• Julien Lamarre - Guitars
• Robin Mariat - Bass
• Adrien Lopez - Drums 

Tracklist:

1. The Other Side Part. I - Requiem
2. The Other Side Part. II - Death Tunnel
3. The Other Side Part. III - River of Souls
4. The Other Side Part. IV - Salvation
5. No Way Out
6. Bliss
7. Mistreated
8. La Jeune Martyre
9. Ever After
10. Artificial Paradises
11. Meditation

Starting with the monument that constitutes “The Other Side”, its length exceeding 22 minutes. Divided into four chapters, this track highlights several aspects of music Wedingoth.

Firstly, “Requiem”, as an introduction, we’re gradually brought into the fabulous world of Wedingoth with a languorous and melancholic guitar solo over the sound of waves and seagulls. Almost religious choirs are then added, providing a dose of solemn and mystical music. An entry original and rather successful.

The metal of Wedingoth combines brilliantly orchestrations of symphony (“The Other Side Part II - Death Tunnel”), of melodic and of progressive. We could think listening to a new Symphony X album in which Russen Allen would have been swapped by the brilliant vocalist Laura! Rhythms and moods alternate, combining several musical landscapes and many emotions. Everything is well executed, and it’s much better than their previous cake!

On “The Other Side Part IV - Salvation”, you can listen the vocalist Laure implement her talent. Her singing has progressed very clearly, her voice is melodious and her vocal modulations make the singing an essential and indispensable part of the music. This song is the proof. Listen to the purity of her voice, the emotional envelope which is transmit, everything is calibrated to bring the listener into another world.

At the end of “The Other Side Part IV - Salvation”, the alarm rings, as to end the dream we were living for more than 20 minutes. The return to reality is not without difficulty, you want to return to this dream world of imagination and fantasy. All this is brilliantly illustrated in the music and sound effects, I let you discover for yourself (it’s rare to hear an excerpt from a radio news flash in a metal album!) The rest of the album, even if it loses this little dreamlike side, remains nonetheless a concentrated melodic progressive metal inspired and carefully presented.

For example, we have the exotic “Bliss”, which takes us right into the wild plains of the territories of American native. On a beautiful starry night, let us tell you about the legendary adventures of the redskins tribes! This song occasionally reminds me of the title “Creek Mary’s Blood” by Nightwish. An exotic side that is a pleasure to hear and that brings a lot of originality and dynamism to the album. In other songs to listen in priority, I’ll include “Mistreated” or “Ever After”. Small flat on “Artificial Paradises” which to my taste does not bring much, and even with the male grunt vocals, it found itself below the other tracks of the album. That said, it demonstrates the eclectic capability of the group, passing easily from aggressive metal to inspired and symphonic rock.

In short, a very successful album in its entirety. I’ll close my eyes on the cover, which in my opinion absolutely does not correspond to the music found on the CD, but apart from this graphic detail, Wedingoth is musically flawless on this album! Let’s wish them to have even more success with their next opus. (With maybe a new style for the artwork?)

Highglith: Other Side of part IV – Salvation, Bliss, Mistreated