Effloresce is another five-piece Progressive & Symphonic Metal band from Nuremburg, Germany. This quintet is fronted by a female vocalist, which gives an extra dimension to their sound.

Effloresce has been around only since 2009 and Coma Ghosts is their debut album, containing only six tracks of which five and quite lengthy, with only exception of the middle song “Undercoat”. The album is produced by famous producer Dan Swanö and the results are superb.

Initially, this opus has many similarities with other modern gothic and symphonic female-led bands. It means a lot of synthesized orchestral and a typical female vocals, much similar to Nightwish, Leave’s Eyes, Epica etc. However, all similarities end here, as the music of Effloresce has much more to it. It has this progressive approach with underlying metal rhythm. Obviously there’re some orchestral touches, but those are beautifully incorporated into their sound and doesn’t feel too overwhelming. Their music in general is also somehow heavier than the one of the above mentioned acts.

Thus the opening track “Crib” starts out with this heavy progressive rhythm perfectly supplemented by a sexy and soaring voice of band’s vocalist Nikki Weber. “Spectre Pt. I: Zorya’s Dawn” is the following song and this one has many of the aforementioned orchestral touches, again tastefully incorporated into the overall sound.

“Pavement Canvas” is the next anthem, and the one that maybe best describe the music of Effloresce; clean vocals blended with metal soars/growls. “Undercoat” is a very short track, at first seems like misplaced on this record, but it has its purpose of breaking the monotony and otherwise repetitive nature of the opus.
“Swimming Through Deserts” is a soft and almost ballad song with some minor progressive touches. The album closer is an epic sixteen-minute long (listen bellow) song and maybe a key-track off the record, the one called “Shuteye Wanderer”. It has just about everything one can expect in one song; melody, great vocals, superb handling of the instruments, pummelling riffs, heavier and softer parts and progression when one feels like taken on a journey.

Everything done on Coma Ghosts is satisfying and if you’re into bands such as Dream Theater, Queensryche, Opeth, Nightwish, Epica, and 1970’s prog I can highly recommend you this album for a listen.

For more info on this great album go to: http://www.effloresceonline.com/


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