The fourth Fall of the Leafe album, Volvere, is re-issued by Finnish metal label Firebox Records. In addition to standard jewel case edition of the album, there's a digipack edition available. This review is based on the digipack edition, which has two bonus tracks. Hence Volvere contains over 53 (standard) or 62 (digipack) minutes of music.

Fall of the Leafe used to be melodic death metal band... However, only traces of their death metal origin can be heard on 'Volvere'. Stylistically their music is a blend of progressive rock, US metal, melodic scandinavian metal and atmospheric gothic rock. As mentioned earlier, one can also hear traces of death metal in Fall of the Leafe's music. Actually the last bonus track 'Mostly Ashes' is a death metal song.

Lyrically Volvere contains short excerpts of prose. With sarcastic grip the lyrics handle the wrongs of the world. The lyrics keep the listener intrigued to listen the whole album. Music, on the other hand, is a tad uninteresting. At all times, the music sounds a bit monotonous. To call Fall of the Leafe as progressive metal band is exaggeration. Their music is at times progressive, but the whole album resides more on the "easily" approachable material. To give their music more progressive impression, they use melancholic guitar melodies in the vein of Katatonia and the like.

Volvere has been produced rather well. It has been recorded and mixed at Popstudio by Mika Haapasalo, but the mastering took place at Finnvox by Mika Jussila. However, mixing could have been somewhat better regarding few aspects. Also the fact that some guitar parts had occasionally background distortion is unfortunate.

Release date: January 2005

Visit Artist's Website


- MAGE (20.01.2005)

« back

LINE-UP:
Tuominen, Tuomas: Vocals Hänninen, Jussi: Guitars, Bass Gustafsson, Kaj: Guitars Hannuniemi: Petri: Keyboards Aaltonen, Matias: Drums
Producer:	Haapasalo, Mika & Fall of the Leafe
Mixing by:	Haapasalo, Mika
Mastering by:	Jussila, Mika

	TRACKLIST:
	01. A Waiting Room Snap 02. If Mirrors Leave Men in Crumbs 03. Enemy Simulator 04. Pillar of the Sun 05. Song from the Second Floor 06. More Like a Situation 07. Hell's Silence 08. Big Ol' Fat Rain Inside 09. Security Locks Are Good 10. Guilt Threat 11. Cut the Smoke 12. Bleak Picture (Bonus) 13. Mostly Ashes (Bonus)