Search - Valley's Eve :: Deception of Pain

Heaviest, yet so atmospheric... oh my God!

Matt Stoessel | Tolland, CT USA | 08/01/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What a melodic band. These guys sound so good. They don't try to imitate anyone, which is like Firewind, the way Elvenking doesn't imitate Rhapsody even though they are the same genre of folk metal. Valley's Eve doesn't sound like Hammerfall or Dream Evil. These guys are much different. There are no ballads on this album, although the beginning of track 7 leads you to believe so. Also, there is a bonus track, which isn't that good, for a total of 13 tracks, making the album clock in at almost 67 minutes! The funny thing about this album is that there are no intros or anything like that. The longest song is about 7:20 long. The vocalist sounds like a combination of Evergrey's vocalist and the vocalist of the American radio band Fuel. Onto the songs. The first song isn't all that good of an opener, I would say. It is just to heavy and there are no keyboards. However, right at the beginning of the second song, the keyboards are introduced and the song isn't as heavy. Tracks 2-4 are average, like most of the album and give you a taste of what you'll be hearing for the next hour. The funny thing about this band is that every song sounds so different, even though each song uses the same bass and drum style. Tracks 5 and 6 stood out in my mind when I listened to the album earlier today. I'm not sure why though. Track 6, I think, is the album's fastest song. Tracks 7-9 are more average songs. 10-12 are my favorites on the album. "Open the Gates" is an awesome song with a cool beat early on. Track 11 is the longest song on Deception of Pain. It is so freakin' different! You hear the chorus twice, then the twist, then a 3rd time, but the song isn't done yet! The coolest part of the song is next, and then the chorus a 4TH time! I love how they do that. Track 12, "Unholy Power", is hands down my favorite on the album. It is loaded with keyboards, and I love keyboards. The sounds at the beginning and very end of the song are so amazingly cool! I can't help but love this song. The bonus track isn't anything special; it's like any song among 2-4 or 7-9. Overall, you can't really go wrong with the album unless you are a melodic metal fan who wants this cause of the keyboards. You'll get drawn away by the heavy, keyboardless opener, especially if you are listening with headphones. So do me a favor and with one click please tell me if my review helped you or not! Thanks!9/24/2003 editHey how ya doin'? I just thought of something else to add. Imagine ANGEL DUST - THRESHOLD (that's a minus sign)."

More like 3-1/2 stars........But good overall

Ai11eurs | Bowmanstown, PA United States | 02/11/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is my first Valley's Eve CD. I am impressed with the music overall, HEAVY just the way I like it :) Roberto's voice is excellent and the guitar riffs heavy and upbeat, but, the choruses are very predictable and repetitive. I have already walked away from the stereo in the middle of a chorus and come back 3 tracks later and think that I'm hearing the same song.Overall, I like it, and if you can bypass a little bit of repetition, buy it :)"