Many things have changed for Asylum Pyre since the release of their first album“Natural Instinct?”. Since the start, the band had to face some problems like the departure of the singer and drummer, the search of substitute and also being with a label. Indeed, after their very promising debut album, Massacre Records decided to sign them. And in December,“Fifty Years Later”, the French group’s second album was there. The cover recalls the previous album (a notion of ecology that is also reflected in the lyrics), reassuring their fan of a sort of continuity in the changes announced.

Line-up:

• Chaos Heidi - Vocals
• Johann Cadot - Vocals, Guitars
• Herve Schiltz - Guitars
• Julien Peuch - Bass
• Tony Decaillon - Keyboards
• Vince Kreyder - Drums

Tracklist:

1. Will You Believe Me?
2. Dead In Copenhagen
3. The Frozen Will
4. These Trees
5. The Herd
6. Fisherman’s Day
7. Against The Sand
8. Any Hypothesis
9. Just Before The Silence
10. Fifty Years Later

Asylum Pyre had several challenges: firstly not lose their superb from them debut album, and find a singer worthy to replace the charismatic Carole. And I must say, it will not be an easy task, as Carole excelled in its registry, not to mention the presence she had on stage. The choice of group is focused on a young woman calledHeidi Chaosalready heard inDespairhateorWhispering Tales. First good point for Asylum Pyre is that the album was written before the signing, of this fact, the group has not lost his personality to stick to Massacre Records’ desires. The group profits from a better sound than on“Natural Instinct?”and therefore sounds more mature and professional.

The evolution of music is also there. If one recognizes the style of Asylum Pyre, the songs are heavier, keeping a progressive side, with prime example as “These Trees”, whose musical bridge reminded that the group did on their first album, but may be brought in a better way. The groups know how to be efficient, while keeping a complexity in the tracks. It’s worked and it shows. Orchestrations are always expected, but were toned down (“Against The Sand”), the heavy side is really more supported. We find, for our greatest joy, lengthy titles that show that Asylum Pyre know how to imbricate several genre, and closes the album in this way (with a guitar solo very well executed while keeping an emotional part).

Few reminders of the past can be heard as well on the chorus as the end of the song “The Herd”(after the piano passage). This time, in addition to the music, it’s the combination of two wonderful voices. Heidi really shows her potential and her voice blends very well with the one ofJohann Cadot. This last is also a bit too rare at the beginning of the album. It is on “The Fisherman’s Day”, a ballad all subtle, that he had the lead (the appearances of Heidi being, at the end) and it shows all the delicacy of his voice. He can be heard in other register in the following tracks, but sometimes too withdrawn, almost relegated as chorus for the singer, which is slightly unfortunate.

And then there’s Heidi, the one we truly waited at the turn. Strong point, but also by moment weak point of the album. If her vocals are varied (she may as well go in the grave that in the treble through a “lyrical” register) she got two drawbacks: the first is a side sometimes too loud, like on “Any Hypothesis” on the ‘A God … A Magician’ transition or at the beginning of “Just Before The Silence”. She sometimes lacks a bit of delicacy; the young woman is often in the force (not in the Star Wars way). Even though with lyrics and messages, this is understandable a little more subtlety would have been welcome. The border is sometimes a fine line between power (which she demonstrates) and strength, and this one is crossed several times. However, this doesn’t take anything of Heidi’s talent who master several registers and allows Asylum Pyre to explore new style. A significant bonus for the group. And that can be heard in all the dongs. One can only applaud the young woman to show much variety in her singing and to know how to master her voice. Second fault, but rather 'trivial’ is her English accent which is not the best. I must admit that the first time it can be quite disturbing, but after a few songs, it no longer shock. This will surely be a detail to some and a big problem for others.

More varied than its predecessor, as well from the voice than the compositions “Fifty Years Later” is an album that takes time, time which we give it to surprise us, but also to tame us. Although changes can be surprising at first, after several listening, they are convincing and completely transport the listener into another world. While the voice may by moment disappoint Asylum Pyre won its challenge despite the 'pressure’ that weighed on their shoulders. And if the evidence were made in the studio, we expect to them be done on stage and in the long term.

Highlights: Fisherman’s Day, The Herd, Fifty Years Later