FollowAshentide are a new female fronted symphonic metal band from Los Angeles. 
Having performed live with Lacuna Coil this year, this 6-piece band, formed by drummer “Overlord Tom” released a 3 track EP in 2011 that we believe is very worthy of note.
Ashendtide combine beauty and darkness in their music. Singer Lenore Young is definitely a singer we’re going to hear more of in the future, and her beautiful, clear and well controlled voice is countered on some of the songs by the dark vocals of guitarist/singer Andrew Faust. Throughout the EP’s three songs, we hear beautiful melodies combined with thick, wrenching riffs. Lyrically, its clear that the band are telling a story though their songs too, and 2 of the 3 songs here are over 6 minutes long. Musically, its a combination of classical music and dark, heavy metal – always a winning formula in this genre.
The three songs on this EP are “Homelands”, “Ondine’s Curse” and my personal favourite “Purgatory”.
I have to say this, and I hope other reviewers read this too – I HATE the overuse of comparisons to the three giants in this genre: Nightwish, Within Temptation and Epica. Just because its a female fronted band doesn’t mean we have to write that it sounds like them. And I hate myself even more for having to use the comparison here, but I really do think fans of Delain, Nightwish, Epica and early Within Temptation will love this new band. (See what I did there? I mentioned a different band as well). This is a band that could be wasted across the ocean – Europe would lap these guys (and girls – 3 women 3 men here) up. Its our taste.
Verdict: 8/10. A great little EP by a promising new talent. We’ll look forward to a full album in the future. Meanwhile, if you havn’t got the EP Ashentide are offering a free download at present. Just go to http://ashentide.com/
