Small band, huge potential !
There are some gothic metal bands out there these days, busy trying to rip off Lacuna Coil, and many others, with their female vocals that soar like a glider on a thermal. Enter Mercury Rain. Formed in Bristol, 1998, they’re the band who are going to rectify this pitiful situation by doing their own thing. With French frontwoman Sonia Porzier, Mercury Rain are able to offer fans of gothic metal something slightly different.
‘St Matthieu’, their latest album, is a deep, dark, soulful 48 minute serving of complete bliss. Beginning with ‘Tales from Beyond’, a chilling song written entirely in French, the only place you can imagine hearing this band perform their work is in a crumbling, candlelit church. Luckily the second track, whilst still not moving from that ancient set, is much more upbeat and features a large male choir. Whilst soft flowing vocals feature throughout, there are plenty of moments for those more interested in heavy guitar and expertly played bass. With Chris Neighbour (Fourwaykill) providing guest vocals on ‘The Messenger’, you realize just how sweet Porzier’s voice really is. Ever so slightly coated in a French accent, it is the perfect vessel for the melancholy lyrics.
‘Shadows Scent’ has to be one of the strongest moments on the album, with vocals that sound almost oriental in places due to the length each note is held for. Although it starts off slowly with a somewhat gloomy introduction, it quickly speeds up with screeching guitars and a purring bassline. No wonder Mercury Rain decided to record a promotional video for it which can be seen on the limited edition DVD.
'Eldritch Mirror' is probably host to the best Mercury Rain guitar playing on St Matthieu. With Porzier dipping down into a low gypsy curse of a voice, she allows herself some freedom to explore the deep crevices of the song. Jon Hoare (Bass, keys and general Mercury Rain mastermind) adds in some fantastic keyboard work to the jagged edges left behind by Dion Smith (Guitars) which leaves the song a lot more palatable for those who prefer their metal a little more melodic. Following this onslaught of anger, the simpering ‘Girl Track’ of the album sounds even quieter than it really is, but overall it’s a beautiful two and a half minutes, let down only by the chorus. Any problems are rectified by ‘St Matthieu’. No wonder it’s the title track- if you love apocalyptic metal full to the brim with adventurous guitar playing and sudden plunges into mellow vocal work, this is the track you’ll be drawn to. With the speedy intro, you’re fooled into thinking that Mercury Rain are after one final rock out before the end of the album. Instead they opt for varying the song throughout.
‘St Matthieu’ is a stunning 48 minutes of talent from yet another UK band who deserve worldwide recognition. With talent and ambition pulsing fiercely through their veins, Mercury Rain have the drive to reach this goal. This album is available to buy through their website- www.mercuryrain.com now but is also released in the UK on the 27th September.