This is Mercury Rain’s second full album and again it is all self-produced and financed in a very stylish CD booklet plus you get a bonus DVD featuring live tracks and a promo video.

The overall packaging would put many labels to shame! Since their debut release they have toured with amongst other Power Quest, Intense and last year’s Bloodstock bill. The music lives up to the lavish packaging as well being an album full of crunching metal riffs topped off by the vocals of Sonia Porzier, who reminds me of Dead Can Dance’s female vocalist. In fact ‘Tales From Beyond’ could easily be a Dead Can Dance number with its gothic atmosphere and haunting vocals (sung in French).

‘Sanctuary’ you could see as a live staple in years to come due to its hook laden riff and strong melody. ‘Shadow’s Scent’ again creates a dark atmosphere with guitars and a tight rhythm section keeping the song moving along nicely. One slight quibble would be the use of perhaps more keyboards to fill the sound out overall, although ‘The Messenger’ and ‘Tales’ both use keys to great effect. Lyrically the songs mange to avoid clichés often associated with goth/dark music.

Sadly since the recording of this album the drummer and co-founder Andy Pester has left the band. Another strong metal album coming out of the UK and well worth seeking out.

****

Review by Jason Ritchie

Band website