Decembers Fall - Awakening (2008)
Review by Tony Cannella
Femme Metal Webzine
Decembers Fall are a female fronted 4-piece outfit from New York City. The band is fronted by singer/songwriter Francesca Scivetti. She is joined by fellow musicians: Luis (guitars), Artie (bass) and Joe (drums). They incorporate an eclectic mix of elements that include - but are not limited to- progressive, rock and alternative.
The title song 'Awakening' gets things underway with a heavy, down-tuned riff and this song sets really a high standard for what is to come. This is actually one of my favorite songs on this disc. After that is the 40-second piano driven track '62606' that leads us into 'Falling Away.' This song is only about 3-minutes long, but it's got a cool tempo and melody attached to it. The chorus is especially catchy. One thing is for certain after listening to the first few songs is that lead singer Francesca is a helluva talent. Not only does she handle the vocals, but she also chips in with piano, and string arrangements. That is not to slight the rest of the band however, as they are all excellent musicians. The 1-minute intro track 'Reflect' gives way to 'In Giving In'. Another excellent number, that I believe the band has shot a video for (check it out on their My space profile). That's a solid choice since this would be a perfect introduction to the band. All the elements are presented here: solid guitar work, an impassioned vocal delivery and the inclusion of piano and violin make this song another highlight.
'Isolation From The World' is a melancholic 2-minute pretty piano passage that segues into 'Solitude'. This song slows things down a bit, but it is no less powerful than the ones before it. It is an emotional heart felt track. 'Absence Of Yourself', 'Words' and 'Nothing Left Of You' are other songs which deserve a special mention as they really display the power and strength of the material contained on this disc.
Although there are 15 tracks provided on Awakening the CD clocks in at only a mere 37 minutes long. That's not necessarily a bad thing. The disc moves along at a brisk pace and the songs have an undeniably immediate impact. There are many short musical passages that do a fine job in creating a cool atmosphere and a bridge from one song to the next giving it an almost conceptual feel.
Awakening is a pleasurable listen. It is enhanced by the great songs and the tremendous musicianship and songwriting that Decembers Fall possesses. I am not sure if the band would consider this a concept album (no lyrics were included with the CD), but there is definitely a feeling of continuity with the songs and the overall feel of the CD. From top to bottom, Awakening is a solid effort and definitely worth every bit of the attention it will hopefully receive.
Rating: 8.5/10
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Reviewed on metalmaidens.com (autumn/winter 2008)
Rating : 7 points (out of 10)
By: Toine van Poorten.
DECEMBERS FALL-Awakening
Independent
New York City rockers DECEMBERS FALL impressed me with their debut album “Awakening”. Fifteen dark, groovy alternative metal tracks, worthy of almost forty minutes of music, filled my room. The songs hold a very groovy alternative sound, some dark melodies and true emotions. The first impression I get is of a band that mixes LACUNA COIL influences with the louder part of a band like EVANESCENCE. Each song is connected with each other by means of a short instrumental intermezzo. This makes their music very pleasant to listen to, in my opinion. Each song gets some kind of an instrumental intro this way. By far the best song is “In Giving In”, for which the band also choose to make a video clip. The instrumental intermezzo “Isolation From The World” is very atmospheric and a good introduction to the acoustic “Solitude”. While “Ellipsis” is a nice acoustic piece. However, “Absence Of Yourself” is a song, I had mixed feelings about. I really disliked the FAITHLESS-like dance influences, but I did like the uptempo beat in this one. Same goes for the dance rhythm and beats of the short intermezzo “Don’t Be Afraid”. It really scared the shit out of me. What has gotten into them? I don’t get it. A feeling of relief comes over me, when the next song “Words”starts off. The BLACK SABBATH-like riffs make up for these bad feelings and I realize that these dance moves were probably just a slight slip of the tongue (hopefully). The short instrumental, right before “Silence”, is very wisely named “In Between Words And Silence”.The perfect title, if I may say so. (LOL). Some of these songs could be very suitable for radio airplay. And maybe the mix of dance beats and groovy rhythms of “Absence Of Yourself” could work out very well. But the highlight of this CD remains “In Giving In” for me. “Nothing Left of You” closes this album, which shows us a band, that fits really well to the world of metal today. Especially, when you’re into bands with a darker sound and that are not afraid to experiment at times. Check out their MySpace site for more information at http://www.myspace.com/decfallnyc.
R. van Poorten-Wiegel
(chief-editor & freelance photographer)
P.O. Box 230
4140 AE Leerdam
The Netherlands
Tel +31 345 614136 / FAX +31 345 610688
Email: mmaidens@xs4all.nl
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Reviewed by Ravenheart Music
DECEMBERS FALL..'AWAKENING'
(Independent Release) Reviewed 9th January 2009
December's Fall fronted by Francesca Scivetti, hail from New York and they seek to reanimate the supposed MTV generation, with lush cinematic melody, classical and ambient electronica, and edgy female driven vocals. And to an extent they suceed with this release. Kicking off with the title track, this will instantly give the listener the sort of direction they are a heading. '62606' follows, which is a short piano intro leading us into the heavy and catchy 'Falling Away'. Further catchy and mid paced/up tempo songs follow, including 'In Giving In' and the dance floor sounding 'Absence Of Yourself'. I also like the slower accoustic based stuff including 'Solitude'. The album is only 37 minutes long, not a bad thing I suppose, and there are instrumental passages within the 15 tracks on offer - cool! I continue to be amazed by the quality of talent that gets ignored by record labels, while at the same time, we are subjected to piles of trash via mainstream radio (I speak for the UK if nowhere else). So go support independent rock and buy this cd.The band can be found at www.myspace.com/decfallnyc .
I like it! 8/10 (Reviewed by Dave)
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"The band, Decembers Fall is one that is of the few bands I have found that can hold their own within a genre that is held true to name.. The style and arrangements are done very well. Check them out and hear it for yourselves. Simply beautifully done!"
-Stacey Perry
Angeldust Productions
"Beautifully meshed elements of heavy, ethereal, ambient....Awakening was a trip I want to take again and again..." Highly reccommended for all who look for a band who truly stands out and isn't a five second flavor of the month!"
-Craig Finelli
CEO, Photographer by Nature Inc.
"This band is going to be HUGE! Awakening is a awesome album from start to finish. Francesca's vocals are amazing and Luis' guitars are awesome. This band is going be a big hit with fans from all over the world! DECEMBERS FALL RULES!"
-Peter Gilmore
WBCR Brooklyn College Radio
Host of The Time Machine
"Decembers Fall music can best be described as "alternative rock" . Vocalist Francesca leads this four piece outfit with style and panache. Their new release "Awakening" is slamming! With 15 solid tracks and a smoking live show, December Fall will be force to be reckoned with in the very near future! "
-Pete Fogel
Kenny's Castaways & The Bitter End N.Y.C.
" An intense mix of emotion and determination transformed into words a& music ."
-Nate Dalcais
Forest Hills Celebrity & Entertainment
" Decembers Fall " cd "Awakening" combines melody and strong rock into an amazing album. Each track is different from the next and makes you want more. "Awakening" is sure to turn heads.
-Jay Scorpion
WBCR Rock Director
Host of The Scorpion's Lair
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"Queens Band Makes It On Its Own "
By Brad Groznik
Queens Tribune /Queens Tribune Online
December 24th, 2008 12:46pm
The members of Decembers Fall just wanted an album that sounded like them but ended up with empty pockets.
The band admits it fell prey to the music business’ deceitful nature when it gave too much creative control to its producer, who took its progressive metal and turned it into a derivative of Nine Inch Nails and Garbage.
It took most of a year to wrangle the band out of a twisted contract of handshakes and cash deals under the table but, sitting in a coffee shop in Forest Hills, the band’s two founding members finally feel settled.
“We were dealing with a producer on the Lower East Side and he tried to take over the album,” said Francesca Scivetti, the band’s main songwriter and lead singer. “When he was finished the drums didn’t even sound like drums anymore.”
Not wanting to sound like other bands on the radio, the band fought back and got out of its tangled engagement with the domineering producer and decided to do things the old fashion way – on their own.
Decembers Fall was born out of a chance meeting of Scivetti and guitarist Luis Esparza in 2004.
“I was riding the elevator after auditioning for another band playing upstairs from our practice space,” Esparza said. “I met Francesca in the elevator and she asked me to try out for a band she was forming.”
Since then, a cast of bassists and drummers have come and gone, but the two Queens natives have stuck together writing what their myspace page calls “lush cinematic melody, classical and ambient electronica and edgy female driven vocals.”
Think Evanescence meets Slayer.
Sequestered in a practice space in Hells Kitchen, Scivetti and Esparza took the better part of four years crafting their debut album “Awakening.” After parting ways with the band’s producers, the band began to buy their own recording equipment and recording the album how they wanted it to sound.
“We have no social life,” said Esparza, an independent contractor by day. “All the extra money we make goes to the studio.”
The song writing process usually begins with Scivetti, who brings in ideas from home and collaborates with Esparza.
“I used to come in with full songs,” Scivetti said. “But after four years with Luis, I don’t have to because he gets what I’m doing.”
The chemistry resulted in 15 songs the band put on the album and had mixed by Kamillo Kratc at Astoria Soundworks.
Up next for the band is promotion.
“2009 is all going to be about promoting the album,” Esparza said.
The band hopes to schedule some gigs early next year. Check out the band’s
myspace page to listen to a few songs or buy the album at
www.performingartssupplies.com.
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