MaterDea
A Rose for Egeria
Midsummer’s Eve
2014
MaterDea is a pagan folk gothic rock band from Italy that has been around for some years, actually 2008, with some 3 albums to their name including this very one.
One could describe their style as a much more symphonic and gothic version of maybe Nightwish, but without all that “fairytale” dust about them. The whole “mode” and atmosphere is a lot more grown up... in a way, quite darker and more threatening, more pompous and ghoulish.
The opening track of the album, “Beyond the Painting” is very much in such a vein… apparently this band must like it’s concepts and dramatic epics too much, as the second song bears the title “Talagor of the Storm” and boasts even more (fake) orchestrations + violin, than you could be bothered with… if anything, they are putting great effort, in making it as pompous as they can.
On “Whispers of the Great Mother” there’s a transition from a very peaceful piano laden past to a more “modern” and “tempestuous” current time before the song cycles back to a more peaceful outro... it manages to incorporate some rather nice orchestrations and pleasant singing.
“Merlin and the Unicorn” features more complex arrangements, strings, dual vocals and in general pulls all stops in trying to tell a story as impressively as possible.
The album’s namesake, begins with a spoken part in Italian before the band springs into action with a slightly arabesque inspired number. This is probably one very beautiful number, with the strings nicely weaving melodies, both female singers of the band exchanging roles, adding dramatic effect and the soli and choruses working to great effect. Possibly one of the best songs of the album.
“An Unexpected Guest” manages to continue, treading the fine line with a nice melodic line on the vocals and a corresponding and overtly pompous keyboard fanfare, which resounds through and through…
“Land of Wonder” wastes a good half minute with quite unconvincing sfx of children rejoicing in a tavern or at a festival, before it starts, it’s fittingly joyous, almost like a jig, but it really feels completely out of place, sandwiched before “An Unexpected Guest” and “Altars of Secrets”… I could understand its inclusion maybe as a bonus track… but as I don’t have any lyrics of this concept I am blissfully unaware as to how such a happy sounding song could occur between two rather “contrasting ones”.
Oh and speaking about “Altar of Secrets” it might actually begin with some really dark and threatening sounding chant but it quickly lightens up considerably, almost sounding like a poofy goth power metal tune soon thereafter.
“Prelude to the Rush” is actually a sad, sounding violin interlude, that's just one and a half minute long and segues the “Altars” into the far more wild spirited...
“Running All Night with the Wind” which is much folkier, almost like a metal version of The Kelly Family, if that analogy would work for you, hahaha. Nice solo!
Finally comes “Haerelneth’s Journey” with some violin player that just won’t quit and some rather intricately laced vocal melodies. It’s a rather nicely laid out song, pretty complex and multithreaded and going in different directions, before it fades away to the wind… like a memory...
All in all, MaterDea are a rather unusual band, while they are far from being incredibly original, or plainly amazing, they do what they do, conscientiously and to a really good standard and at times (ie the title track) it’s even great. Because of their unique style they can be a little of an acquired taste and the fact that most of their songs are quite long winded, doesn’t help with them being “easier” on the ears... however I am sure that they might be right up some people’s alley for sure.
I do stand divided I must say… I did like them, but I wasn’t all that enthralled throughout. But when they are good, they can be very good! (check: “Beyond the Painting”, “A Rose for Egeria” & “Haerelneth’s Journey”)
One could describe their style as a much more symphonic and gothic version of maybe Nightwish, but without all that “fairytale” dust about them. The whole “mode” and atmosphere is a lot more grown up... in a way, quite darker and more threatening, more pompous and ghoulish.
The opening track of the album, “Beyond the Painting” is very much in such a vein… apparently this band must like it’s concepts and dramatic epics too much, as the second song bears the title “Talagor of the Storm” and boasts even more (fake) orchestrations + violin, than you could be bothered with… if anything, they are putting great effort, in making it as pompous as they can.
On “Whispers of the Great Mother” there’s a transition from a very peaceful piano laden past to a more “modern” and “tempestuous” current time before the song cycles back to a more peaceful outro... it manages to incorporate some rather nice orchestrations and pleasant singing.
“Merlin and the Unicorn” features more complex arrangements, strings, dual vocals and in general pulls all stops in trying to tell a story as impressively as possible.
The album’s namesake, begins with a spoken part in Italian before the band springs into action with a slightly arabesque inspired number. This is probably one very beautiful number, with the strings nicely weaving melodies, both female singers of the band exchanging roles, adding dramatic effect and the soli and choruses working to great effect. Possibly one of the best songs of the album.
“An Unexpected Guest” manages to continue, treading the fine line with a nice melodic line on the vocals and a corresponding and overtly pompous keyboard fanfare, which resounds through and through…
“Land of Wonder” wastes a good half minute with quite unconvincing sfx of children rejoicing in a tavern or at a festival, before it starts, it’s fittingly joyous, almost like a jig, but it really feels completely out of place, sandwiched before “An Unexpected Guest” and “Altars of Secrets”… I could understand its inclusion maybe as a bonus track… but as I don’t have any lyrics of this concept I am blissfully unaware as to how such a happy sounding song could occur between two rather “contrasting ones”.
Oh and speaking about “Altar of Secrets” it might actually begin with some really dark and threatening sounding chant but it quickly lightens up considerably, almost sounding like a poofy goth power metal tune soon thereafter.
“Prelude to the Rush” is actually a sad, sounding violin interlude, that's just one and a half minute long and segues the “Altars” into the far more wild spirited...
“Running All Night with the Wind” which is much folkier, almost like a metal version of The Kelly Family, if that analogy would work for you, hahaha. Nice solo!
Finally comes “Haerelneth’s Journey” with some violin player that just won’t quit and some rather intricately laced vocal melodies. It’s a rather nicely laid out song, pretty complex and multithreaded and going in different directions, before it fades away to the wind… like a memory...
All in all, MaterDea are a rather unusual band, while they are far from being incredibly original, or plainly amazing, they do what they do, conscientiously and to a really good standard and at times (ie the title track) it’s even great. Because of their unique style they can be a little of an acquired taste and the fact that most of their songs are quite long winded, doesn’t help with them being “easier” on the ears... however I am sure that they might be right up some people’s alley for sure.
I do stand divided I must say… I did like them, but I wasn’t all that enthralled throughout. But when they are good, they can be very good! (check: “Beyond the Painting”, “A Rose for Egeria” & “Haerelneth’s Journey”)