Europe, for centuries, has been a centre of cultural magnitude, opulence, and fine art, so it would make sense for the continent to have the vast monopoly on the classical music market. Switzerland; a nation in their own right known for their standards of craftmanship and inspirational lifestyles, has more than their fair share of bands, emboldened and imbued with the grace and emotional elegance of the symphonic arts, but with the weight and visceral force of death metal.
After a tumultuous formation as the short-lived Spellbound, and then after Wishpond, before being reborn as Shadowpath, Rumours of a Coming Dawn represents their first full studio album over a decade after their original formation, and was kindly given the reissue treatment this year by the tirelessly prolific Sliptrick Records. Within the two and a half minutes album introduction Prelude To Agony, the reissue is already a welcome investment. Opening with streams of rainfall, a piano’s lament invokes a sense of mourning, with lead vocalist Simone Christinat first gently stretching her chords, that swiftly escalate into a fully-fledged wail, that’s eerily compelling and soaked with enough sorrow, to really instil that feeling of agony writhing through the song’s core. Guitar and drums crash in a minute through, and in tandem with the piano, it transforms the song into a decidedly heavy dirge, frequent double kick bursts giving your inner metalhead something to nod along to, and a late ripping guitar solo that stays in tune with the sense of melancholy for the song to close.
Chaos Equation however, is where the characteristics of the album really start to shine through, despite coming across as a longer, glorified introduction. The squelch of bright keyboard pairs with the guitar to usher in the album’s first melodic riff, of which that guitar then ascends to its own pedestal and unleashes its own triumphant voice, that of a rhythmic roar setting the scene for the narrative to unfold. Ever so subtly, you do get moments of shimmer and sparkle that flesh out the textures and atmospheres Shadowpath weave, and there’s plenty of these minute details or layers throughout Rumours’ running time that enhance the overall listening experience. We also get to experience a greater depth of Simone’s dynamic vocal prowess, which inevitably will draw comparisons to Tarja-era Nightwish, but constant duelling with the deep guttural bellow of Philipp Bohny, makes their dichotomy seem like Beauty and the Beast became a brawl instead of a beautiful romance. It’s that interplay between light and shadow that gives their music that theatrical nature, and keeps it engrossing, sowing several seeds of intrigue throughout its course and drawing fascination towards where this journey will turn next.
Ultimately, the music scales, atmospheres grow denser and more intricate, and like the most promising of performances, more emotionally involving. Seed of Hope begins with Simone alongside piano, strings in tow, and the elevation of that sense of melancholy felt earlier, stings remarkably more here than anywhere else in the album. It’s also worth noting the keys are utterly sublime here, their skilful interlacing truly lending a flourishing, emotional ambience to Simone’s voice, that becomes a highlight of Rumours. Album centrepiece The Impossible Chain strays into prog territory at 12 minutes in length, giving greater room and prominence to both sets of vocals, Simone’s vocals gaining almost a sense of decorum, and later uplifting and enchanting through tension-driven anxiety into euphoria, and Philipp’s growls creating foreboding, and a darker, approaching evil, guitar accompanying perfectly to root this evil in a harsh, yet believable reality. The album’s closing two tracks For A Final Ultimatum and Beta cement the pair’s chemistry, constantly shifting and altering pace and mood with each vocal focus, the narrative and soundscapes evolving into transcendent set pieces of passion, that exhibit how much love and talent has gone into bringing this glorious fantasy to life.
While this is only their debut effort, amongst the eight chapters of Rumours, there is a complexity and devotion, that over a decade of experience has forged, that absolutely deserves the grander stage it so sets its sights upon.
7/10 Riffs
FFO: Nightwish, Delain, Septicflesh
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