Area 51 – Goddess

Area 51 is from Japan and they play neo-classical power metal with very unique female vocals exclusively in Japanese language. The music reminds me of an Anime movie soundtrack crossed with Helloween and Yngwie Malmsteen styled power metal. This is a very good album with a great production and it should appeal to open minded power metal fans.

I am a huge fan of power metal but I must admit I am usually disappointed when I hear new power metal bands because it always sounds very un-original. Area 51 has all the aspects you have come to love about power metal but they have one very large advantage, the vocals. The vocals give the band a one of a kind sound and allow them to stand out in a style of music that is dominated with clones. In fact if it were not for the great vocals, I would write this off as another clone but the vocals save it. The guitar work is not original at all but it is done tremendously well, in fact the guitarist is really great, a top notch shredder! This is some of the best power metal I have heard in a very long time.

My favorite tracks are: Nightmare, Regret et larme, Marrionnette and U TA KA TA. My favorite track is “Sincerity” which has a strong and victorious theme. The most original sounding song on the album is, “Marrionnette” which has some very interesting vocal arrangements.

There are a few tracks on the album that are more on the ballad side of the fence which makes for a very well rounded album but I am not a huge fan of ballads. The ballads might appeal more to a Japanese audience. However, I love the rest of the album! The Japanese language works really well with power metal, I guess because they both sound so happy and it is the Japanese language that makes this such a cool album, I love it!

http://www.area51-web.com/

http://www.myspace.com/area51web