Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Persefone - Core (2006)

With an album name like Core, you might expect the band to add some metalcore/hardcore/grindcore... I wish! Though what I ended up getting is perfect too. See, what this album centers around is the legend of Core (pronounced "KOR-ee"), the female maiden goddess of life and death, whose other name, Persephone is the inspiration for the band's name with a slight different spelling, Persefone. The part of the legend dealt with here is her abduction and exile to the underworld, very fitting for the music aspect...

A couple years after their debut that started as a demo but became a full-length album, Truth Inside the Shades, Core evolves the sound from an already unique album into something greater. Simply in greater depth, the addition of female vocals, and consisting of 3 long songs that could fill in a 3-part mini-TV-series!

The first of those 3 long tracks, "Sanctuary" already shows what the real deal is gonna be. Besides those 3 elements that shape up the album evolve their sound (greater depth, female vocals, long songs). The heaviness often calms for something softer and restrained, and that's good because if you're gonna make three 20+ minute epics, you gotta add some variety. Clean guitars are more prominent with Hispanic vibe from famous composers in countries surrounding their homeland of Andorra, such as Emilio Pujol from Spain. The guitar soloing can be a bit bluesy, but in a pleasant way. The lead and rhythm guitars are what power up the nice riffing. There's prominent bass, and nice piano and keyboards. Is it just me or are there 4 vocalists in this album? A growler, a screamer, a male singer, and a female singer... I bet this ambitious aspect inspired Amaranthe's multi-vocalist style. All these vocal styles share the spotlight, shining at different moments after moments, though while I enjoy the unclean vocals, the clean vocals fit better for the atmosphere. I'm used to the balance of clean and unclean vocals since Trivium. And did I mention the epic progressive length of beyond 20 minutes??

"Underworld" continues the lengthiness with everything I just mentioned. All 3 of these tracks are epic, but what really stands out is the last of them, "Seed". It starts with an amazing oriental-ish section with male cleans, and the rest is absolute beauty and fury, until a peaceful ending. Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention that the tracks are all split into multiple parts, split even further in the lyrics. Lo and behold (sorry if takes up long-a** space in the review):

"Sanctuary: Light and Grief":

"Act I: Goddess Wrath":

"Drowning the Light", "The Reaction", "Goddess Wrath"

"Act II: Light's Memories":

"Mother's Memories"

"Act III: Exiled to the Void":

"The Light Punishes the Earth", "Exile", "The Message from the Father of Gods", "Denial"

"Act IV: To Face the Truth":

"Hermes Arrival", "Core's Transgression", "Consequences"

"Underworld: The Fallen and the Butterfly":

"Act I: Clash of the Titans":

"The Battle Ends", "A Mighty Crash"

"Act II: Dark Thoughts from a Dark Heart":

"Dark Thoughts from a Dark Heart"

"Act III: When the Earth Breaks":

"And So It Happens", "Nine Days"

"Act IV: Released":

"Doubts Are Seed", "Hermes Journey", "Tasting the Forbidden Fruit", "The Underworld", "Meeting the Light"

"Seed: Core and Persephone":

"Act I: A Ray of Hope":

"Held Captive"

"Act II: Self Betraying":

"Memories", "Betraying Herself"

"Act III: Doubts Are Seed":

"A Pure Heart Succumbs"

"Act IV: Dark Inner Transition":

"Transition to Persephone"

"Act V: The End":

"The End", "Epilogue"

Hello again! Hope I didn't lose you during that huge list of all the parts and micro-parts of the tracks. Anyway, however you would like to consider these tracks, they're all for great enjoyment. However, there a couple more editions that each have a bonus track. For the Japanese edition, "Train of Consequences" is a cover of a Megadeth song, separate from the concept, being just pure epic blackened death metal with a nice solo. And if you get the international reissue, the "Star Wars Medley" would have you squealing in joy, especially if you're a Star Wars fan like I am. You'll definitely have fun headbanging there! The songs used in that medley are: "Star Wars Theme", "The Imperial March", a brief yet epic fragment of "Duel of the Fates", "Cantina Band", and "The Force Theme".

All in all, I would recommend Core to any metalhead, especially if the album's sound deathly progressive metal with symphonic gothic metal elements is your thing. How can you ever dislike something so good that it deserves more recognition? Get it now!!

Favorites: Seed (Core & Persefone) (though the other two long tracks are also epic)