Illusions of Grandeur – "The Siren": The Saga continues
"The Siren" is the second part of "The Siren Saga" and the follow-up to the debut of Illusions of Grandeur, "The Songs of the Siren".
By Dimitris (Bari) Polyzois
According to Illusions of Grandeur, "The Siren Saga" is the story of the journeys, dangers and triumphs of the Siren and her warriors. The story blends fact and fiction. It combines Greek and Scandinavian mythology, the Sirens, the Gods, the Archangels and Charos, the personification of Death.
"The Siren" is a mix of different influences and elements, both in the lyrical and the musical part of the record
The band draws inspiration from various different mythologies. It crafts its own legendary and epic narrative and presents a creation reminiscent of something out of Neil Gaiman. Throwing the theatricality that characterizes, mainly, the vocal part into the equation, the narrative gains immediacy and comes alive through the lyrics. And the music dresses each song distinctly and fittingly.
Similarly to the lyrical part, the sound doesn't stay static and the same throughout. It develops and evolves as the record progresses. Ideas from hard rock, heavy metal, thrash and groove metal are combined with the epic element and the fuzz-heavy underground sound.
The epic element plays a key role in the record's development
The epic element plays a key role in the record's development, since it also stems from the epic character of the lyrical part. Characteristic examples are the songs "We Ryse”, “The Storm" and "Everlasting Fire", which are three of the most dynamic tracks on the album. But we can't talk about "The Siren" without mentioning the singer's excellent vocal performance. Within the track, it ranges from wild, fry vocals to beautiful, melodic vocal lines.
No doubt about it. "The Siren" is a distinctive album, with a fresh sound, an epic character and heavy riffs, which I recommend without a second thought.
