Search - Oratory :: Beyond Earth

Unique, powerful, and melodic

p-51 | CO United States | 12/02/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you have any sort of affinity for female-fronted metal... or if you enjoy straightforward, well-done power metal... or even if you just appreciate fantastic musicianship, you owe it to yourself to check out Oratory.



Being a fan of groups like Nightwish, Lacuna Coil, Within Temptation, and (to some extent) After Forever, when I first learned of Oratory, I was expecting this to be another medium-paced metal outfit with a pretty-voiced female lead. I expected to play it for a while, get bored within a month or two, then shelve it.



What I did NOT expect was to be completely floored by the sound and energy this band puts out. The quick-tempo power metal hits you like a steamroller. Your head starts to bob, you move a little quicker, and you start looking for a flat surface to pound in a vain effort to keep up with the drums. But the best is yet to come...



Ana's voice is at once delicately melodic and powerfully authoritative. Another vocalist might get plowed under by the heavy sound, but not her. Without any sort of operatic histrionics or trillings, she provides a perfect accompaniment to the speed and power of the music. The result is sheer sing-along auditory pleasure. And on those rare occasions when the music slows down just for a minute, and she tones the energy down just a notch, it's so very sweet.



While I'm still a big fan of the aforementioned groups, most of them sound a little... weak? when compared to Oratory. They all have their good points, and they continue to hold treasured places in my CD collection, but if it's pure, refined power you're looking for, Oratory's "Beyond Earth" is the way to go. It's an album that will hold your interest for a good long time.



This group is the Real Deal, folks. Give them an audience."

Absolutely beautiful

Analog | Planet Earth | 01/25/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a tremendous step foreward from Illusion Dimension, which is, by no means, a bad album at all. This is perfection. The male vocals are gone alltogether(except for some background), and Ana Lara takes over as sole vocalist. This is a great example of how a band should mesh musically. Not only do they have great melodies and talent, they have an amazing vocalist in Lara. Everything works together in seamless perfection. This is everything you could ask for and more in a classic power metal album."

Powerslave

M. cowell | 04/05/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As someone else has stated, this is a cd that you will love and cherish. Ana Lara has a pure melodic voice, it is so beautiful. Production is awesome, great musicians all round especially keyboards. Definatly one for the collection if your into melodic powermetal. Make way for portugeuse heavy metal!!!"