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Die Verbannten Kinder Evas: Dusk And Void Became Alive
 The latest release Dusk and Void Became Alive from Die Verbannten Kinder Evas (meaning "The Banished Children of Eve"...what a cool name for a band) once again features singer/keyboard player Richard Lederer of the band Summoning, and this time around he brings with him Greek vocalist Christina Kroustali. The two have created an album that keeps the tradition of past releases alive, that is a mix of gothic and progressive rock housed within a classical presentation. The formula is driven by Kroustali's soaring operatic vocals and Lederer's majestic keyboard stylings. No guitar, no bass. Drums appear on a few tracks, but I'm not sure if they are programmed or not-check out the wild kettle drum sounds on "Winters Night" and "Unquiet Thoughts". All the musical landscapes are performed and composed by Lederer on various keyboards, giving the music a very rich, harmonious, symphonic, and progressive flavor. Actually, bombastic would also be a good way to describe this as well, but not in an aggressive way, as this is dark and melancholy music to say the least, hence the terms Classical & Romantic Dark Wave which seem to follow the band around. With Christina's gorgeous vocals meshing well with Richard's gothic tone, there is such a rich & haunting ambience throughout this CD that is very appealing from a vocal standpoint. Let's not forget about the majestic keyboard talents that Lederer possesses, as his ability to compose lush soundscapes and distinct melodies is pretty impressive.
If I have any criticism's at all about Dusk And Void Became Alive, it's that all of the songs follow the same format, so if you are looking for a variety of mood and tempo, you might get bored quickly. However, if you like classically oriented, gothic tinged prog rock, complete with lush keyboard soundscapes, beautiful operatic female vocals, lots of atmosphere, and some kettle drums, there's much to dig into here.
Track Listing
1. Dusk And Void Became Alive
2. Mistrust
3. Winters Night
4. Unquiet Thoughts
5. Cease To Breath
6. Praise Blindness Eyes.
7. Virtues Cloak
8. Moon Muse
9. Catharsis
Added: January 21st 2007
Reviewer: Pete Pardo
Score:  
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 4486
Language: english
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Die Verbannten Kinder Evas: Dusk And Void Became Alive
Posted by Ken Pierce, SoT Staff Writer on 2007-01-21 08:28:08
My Score:
And so, after an extended period we are finally able to enjoy Dusk And Void Became Alive, as it has been a full seven years since the group last released In Darkness Let me Dwell. The return of Die Verbannten Kinder Evas or "The Banished Children Of Eve" (as it is translated) comes with some changes this time around. The side project of Summoning's Richard Lederer still brings forth the rich and dramatic Darkwave, but singer Tania Borsky has gone on to pursue other interests after growing complacent in the group. In her place, we find the magnificent talents of Christina Kroustali from Greece. She possesses a beautifully romantic voice and her melodic tones captivate the listener and are at times very haunting. Composer Richard Lederer brings you into a world of sullen melancholy and heartfelt despair on the release, which they describe as their darkest album in their catalog. Musically this is a very dynamic piece but its use of them is not in the typical fashion that one would expect. Each song is very classically rooted and epic in nature but the entire album follows a steady and slow tempo, which might not appeal to those seeking intensity of another kind. The structure as it is presented here allows Kroustali the means to deliver songs that are truly haunting yet at the same time sad. Richard also sings on occasion but no longer does any high voices as he had done on their older material. As the album plays, you can almost feel yourself looking over some solemn lake or field on a brisk day as you think upon the heavier topics in life. Yet despite the solemn nature of the recording, it does not leave you in a state of inconsolable grief but instead a bit more relaxed and perhaps stronger in sense of purpose. I loved its difference from everything else available and feel that Lederer has succeeded beyond his expectations and should be applauded for continuing in his creations for this group. Its music that is perfect for a concert hall where one enjoys classical music and symphony. With the group being comprised of only Lederer and Kroustali, I am wondering how it would sound in the live sense with strings, additional keyboards and traditional percussion implements. It has a big sound with two people and I imagine it being much more profound should the performing lineup be extended by a few members.
I would expect that the Gothic fans would take well to this unique Darkwave group and perhaps fans of operatic voices will love this overall intelligent and passionate piece of music. Lederer has proven that creativity has many directions and we have definitely not heard the last of Ms. Kroustali. The listener should approach this with an open mind and allow it to bring them to other worlds of musical enjoyment.
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