From the first moments of the title track, also chosen to open the album, we feel that Cain's Offering wanted to make his music a little more emphatic than before. The compo is fast and epic, it begins with a big chorus supported by occasional vocals and keyboards and Johansson arrangements add a slightly symphonic dimension than Harkin. Apart from that, musically, it's still very classic with a part (and sound) of battery already heard on thousands of compounds of this type, and a guitar, as usual with Liimatainen, remains fairly unobtrusive. The melody is effective, we can say that it starts rather well.
There are other times of classic melodic speed close enough to the opening song on this cake. Their names I Will Build You A Rome Constellation Of Tears and Rising Sun. The same goes for Stormcrow. It's fast, catchy, not especially innovative but effective ... if you're still not tired of this kind of exercise. The emphasis is on melody, inevitably catchy, easy to understand but sometimes a little too "cute" like I Will Build You A Rome. On this basis there is also a real balance between the music and lyrics: "My love, my soul, my heart are yours ... if you just want to share your life with me ... forevermore." We do not do the torture or the warrior there ... it is however much closer to marriage. It is a bias. That in any case an alternative to stories of dwarves and dragons.
We find this key and sensitive metal pop on the mid-tempo A Night To Forget. It's a little mild satisfaction for your servant but it takes something for everyone. The ballad Too Tired To Run enjoys beautiful orchestrations but also suffers, in my opinion, this smooth or cutesy appearance. Speaking orchestrations, note their presence on such compos Antemortem and I Am Legion. And here we must mention other influences to which I alluded in the introduction. Yes, because it would seem that Kotipelto Liimatainen and have enjoyed the latest albums of Nightwish. Finns can feel the shadow of the symphony instrumental I Am Legion, making blockbuster soundtrack of summer adventure, but it passes. It's more annoying on Antemortem which is a rather ambitious piece yet, heavy, epic and class ... but the riff and orchestrations refer directly to the work of Tuomas Holopainen & co. If this had not been done before, we would have said that Cain's Offering has been hard but, as is, we say that it sounds like Nightwish. Good song anyway, just not very personal.
With Stormcrow, Cain's Offering therefore delivers a pleasant album, rather imperfect but well done ... like the group did there six years ago actually. The incorrigible Sonata Arctica and Stratovarius should appreciate. Those who had already hung Gather The Faithful are likely to feast with this sequel that brings some small changes in form but maintains a close enough background. No complaints about the technique, it is clean and free of burrs. Timo Kotipelto sings very well and is more reasonable (as it does for some years) by not insisting to ride in the treble at all costs. The set does not seem inevitable but the time spent listening to me this second effort is pleasant.
Find this column (and many others) on the webzine auxportesdumetal.com
