"This could be the next big band in gothic metal in 5 years, people!"
The term Gothic is too broad to be able to classify a whole genre with it. We have old gothic architecture, black leather and chains galore, dark splendor, and then there is music. You can't listen to something and think "Yes, this is gothic metal" with full confidence. It's why I like the genre, there's so much room to try something new and innovative without straying from the path people love. While Deva don't do anything revolutionary here, one thing is evident - they know their gothic metal!
Deva are newcomers to the scene from Italy. Within a few years of forming, they already have their full length - ready to storm the underground of gothic metal with their opus. Between Life and Dreams showcases the bands style both musically and lyrically, which I wouldn't hesitate to call a "demo on steroids". Unsurprisingly, the CD is full of gothic metal at its best standard. There are few bands I've ever seen with such potential in an underground band, and this doesn't come lightly.
The one thing that can make or break gothic metal is the vocals, since they have such a priority over most other things in the mix. Luckily, the lead singer Beatrice really nails almost everything she is given. Her singing style is quite operatic, and to me sounds a hell of a lot like the female vocalist of UneXpect, but perhaps a little bit less honed. I think with training, this vocalist could be transcended to the best this genre has to offer. The vocals are well sung and well handled, and this vocalist is obviously destined for better things!
To compliment this, the instrumentation is also very well handled. The guitaring is well played and sounds great. The riffs are well composed and catchy, which are the perfect compliment to the great vocals by Beatrice. As are the drums and bass - everything molds together as if each of the instruments were married to the vocals, they stick together to deliver a sweet and enjoyable sound. Nothing has not been thought of in this album, everything has their own priority.
Every song here is well composed with little room for improvement for what these songs are. There's a nice contrast between soft songs and more "metal" songs, which are all nicely transitioned so you will never get bored of one style before the next one comes in. You can tell that everything here has been thought through. It's really refreshing to see a band that obviously takes everything and everyone in the band into consideration and doesn't try to prioritize anything. This is what I like to see, and this is what tells me Deva will be around for a long time to come!
The songs are constantly changing, but I think it gets to the point where it could be problematic. It's difficult to tell each track from each other, which leaves the songs a bit unmemorable. Perhaps this was on purpose so it had the feel of an album rather than every individual track. This is definitely refreshing, considering bands like Nightwish have just become a band that simply makes singles and calls them an album. I really respect Deva for this, but perhaps they should give each song just a little bit more identity.
Overall though, I can't help but be impressed with Between Life and Dreams. It has a style of its own, a taste of its own and is certainly something gothic metal fans really cannot afford to not support. The songs are so well composed that I cannot help but recommend all of them, and where the production and identity may take some development, this is only a small gripe - these problems aren't enough to cast a shadow over this bright corner of the underground. This could be the next big band in gothic metal in 5 years, people.
17/20 - JoeNoctus
★ Spirit Of Metal
