MERLIN

Full of beauty and grandeur, HaALLOWEEN's 1994 concept album is a modern day classic epic recording which I plan to take to the 'ol desert island. Fans of ANGE will go crazy for "Merlin" which carries strong "ANGE'isms". What does it totally for me on this album is not only the superb musicianship and song writing, but extreme use of instrumentation which is full and rich sounding. While the classic instruments like guitar, bass , drums and mellotron take up much space, we are given lots of other accents including loads of violins (incl E-Bow), contrebass, flute trombone, trumpet and tuba.

This gives the album a strong symphonic and theatrical feel throughout. Lead vocals (sung in French) are contrasted with the delicate female vocals of Geraldine Le Cocq and the male vocals of Jean Philippe Brun and Gilles Coppin. Merlin is full of major mood and tempo swings and moves from tranquil passages to heavy guitar pounding moments. I can not say enough about this album except for that it is truely essential.

Another good concept album, sometimes excellent, telling the story of the most famous Celtic Magician in the court of King Arthur, also thanks to the stunning orchestral support of strings and brass.well it's an intelligent blend of progressive rock, modern music and jazz rock, whose virtuosity is evident in every passage. Besides the quality recording is remarkable and their songs are always captivating!!

There is any particular or diverse tune inside,being alway cohesive in comparison to their excellent music standard, and moreover I like to mention such a fine album cover picture evoking the northern lands of Britannia and the magical places of the Druids, which make the present concept album well worth checking out...honestly at the end you could erase an half star for a few uneven derivative parts only, but it's a minor question once again!

First of all, the band was sent back to the Symphonic genre (from Heavy); which is truly were they belong. Their music is very dark and oppressive, but at no moment did they ever play heavy music. This is only justice.

The second remark is that all the lyrics are sung in French this time. I have experienced their poor English efforts in this department during their first two releases, so I can only be thankful to the band to have opted for their native language to express their feelings.

The third one is that the band has brought a new female vocalist on board. This is also a good news, since J.P. Brun was not the best of them. But she will only share the bill. Two additional ensembles also appear: strings and brass. They are mostly noticed during Le Sacre and Forêt (but not only).

The music that you will discover holds very much from their debut album. Lots of medieval atmospheres which induces some Ange oriented passages (but not too many.

The mood is dark and gloomy; even if the reference for this (but only this) remains LAZ, their previous effort which sounded more as a horror movie soundtrack than anything else. It is true that the music from Halloween fits a funeral party better than a wedding one.

Some parts of this album, which is mainly instrumental, are on the jazzy side (Le Sacre), and aren't really my cup of tea. Halloween is even heading Kansas while playing Table Ronde. The weird Morgane featured almost inaudible vocals. It is almost a recitation from the new vocalist Géraldine Le Cocq. Is it because the lyrics aren't quite interesting that she is whispering those?

I have to say that this album is losing its interest rapidly. The listener is confronted with little variations during this Merlin opus. A pompous effort, not very inspired music and as I have said during my Laz review, the purpose of writing dark pieces just to be scary might work for a while, but when it is repeated so often; it is annoying instead.

Two stars for this thin storyboard that goes along with little passionating music.

HALLOWEEN are a French band who have changed their style over the years.This is their most Symphonic up to this point and it's a concept album although the lyrics are all in French so I can't follow along. Both male and female vocals on this one with plenty of strings and a very Classical flavour to their sound. "Le Conseil Des Demons" opens like a funeral march really until we get a change after 2 1/2 minutes with reserved vocals.It turns fuller quickly but the tempo will shift back and forth.Piano before 5 minutes followed by organ. A good start. "Le Proces" features spoken words, percussion and strings early then it settles until the vocals stop then it picks back up 3 1/2 minutes in.This is a really good instrumental section. It settles after 5 minutes then kicks back in a minute later with vocals. "Apres La Bataille" kicks in with guitar before 2 1/2 minutes then settles back with strings as contrasts continue. "Le Sacre" is very Classical sounding with strings leading. Not a fan of this. A change a minute in but it's not that much better until before 2 minutes when it picks up with prominant bass and guitar. "Table Ronde" opens with violin that actually reminds me of KANSAS. Great sound before 2 minutes with drums and guitar leading. It settles back with violin after 3 minutes. "Morgane" has these reserved female vocals that are the focus throughout. "Arthur Contre Morgane" is bombastic early then it settles with violin then vocals. Contrasts continue. Female vocals before 3 1/2 minutes. "Viviane" is a short acoustic guitar piece. "Dragon Rouge Dragon Blanc" is Classical sounding with strings, loud drums (kettle drums?) and other sounds. "Derniere Bataille" has horns that blast on and off before it gets heavier.This is good.That changes after 2 1/2 minutes as the strings start to lead. "La Morte De Morgane" is experimental to start then it kicks in around 2 minutes.Female vocals join in as well. "Foret" is dark with strings as it turns Classical sounding. It changes after 2 1/2 minutes with soaring guitar,bass and drums standing out. A low 3 stars for me, I just can't get into this album at all to be honest.