Serenity – “Codex Atlanticus” Album Review

Serenity – “Codex Atlanticus” Album Review

by Cristina Țurlea

If you are a fan of Serenity, you’ll be thrilled with their fifth full length album, “Codex Atlanticus”, soon to be released by Napalm Records on the 29^th of January. It is such an epic musical journey! From its first seconds to the last, this album sounds exceptionally well; it gave me the feeling of listening to a movie soundtrack because of its beautiful orchestration that is so dominant and I must add that I really enjoy music that sends out vibes of storytelling. It feels like a conceptual album, filled with historical themes that revolve around Leonardo Da Vinci’s life.

The album starts with an orchestral track that will immediately intrigue you and make you curious about what follows. I instantly got that feeling like when you’re in the crowd waiting for the band to come on stage; it just sends you that sort of epic power. The next tune is “Follow Me” and you already know it, because they have recently launched a video for this one. You might be tricked by its first piano notes in thinking that it may be a ballad, but it slowly begins to be heavier due to some kickass guitar riffs. “Sprouts of Terror” is one of my favorites, because it starts a bit more aggressive and also because we have some more harsh vocals here provided by Mr. Fabio D’Amore, the bassist of Serenity. The two voices intertwine amazingly making this song very vibrant. “Iniquity” is another favorite that caught my eye since we got to listen to it online (because it has a beautiful lyrics video). The choir on this track is simply mind-blowing, the orchestration is so bombastic, but in the same time really balanced with the smooth vocals provided by Georg Neuhauser. You’ll find yourself pushing the repeat button, trust me. Moving on to “Reason”, you’ll be enchanted by Georg’s vocals once more, especially when he invites us to trust in him (He he, you’ll get it when you’ll listen to it); the song has a melancholic instrumental start, but it gets speedy really fast.

And if you were wondering about the ballads on this album, here we are! “My Final Chapter” is the first one and a great one too. It is a song about death, but don’t expect it to be morbid, on the contrary, it will give you a peaceful feeling due to the calming vocals and the magical orchestration sprinkled with some folk influences here and there. The following tune, “Caught in a Myth”, will surely bring you back to reality. This one seems to have some Kamelot influences and I absolutely love it! The composition continues to be mystical and very well put together. You’ll fall in love with the lyrics for sure, because it’s that kind of song that gives you the power and motivation to go on, no matter what happens. “Fate of Light” breaks the pattern and starts full on heavy, with an ascending melodicity on the chorus and some awesome choirs in between. The guitar parts represent the highlights of this song. I think it is fair to say that the next one, “The Perfect Woman”, sounds like a ballad, but a more Avantasia rock opera kind of ballad, powerful and filled with hope. The warmth of this song is provided by the enchanting vocals of the lovely Amanda Somerville. “Spirit in the Flesh” is another song that features another male vocalist, their own guitar player who does a wonderful job. The rock opera feeling dominates this one as well. And we have reached the closing track, which is named “The Order”. It begins with a piano part, slowly adding some sharp guitar riffs and then being completed with the powerful vibe of the full orchestra. I think it was the perfect choice to end this album, because it gave me that feeling of taking a final decision, that sort of decision that will have a great impact on what is to come.

Overall, “Codex Atlanticus” is a very dynamic album; it will surely be a treat for the old fans of Serenity, but also a very nice surprise for the ones that haven’t been with the band since their beginning, fans like me. And if you haven’t listened to them at all, start with this album and you won’t be disappointed. It’s a symphonic metal jewel, with power and progressive influences, some folk vibes here and there, beautiful strong vocals and most important, intriguing stories.

More about Serenity:

www.serenity-band.com/

www.facebook.com/serenityaustria

Tracklist of “Codex Atlanticus”: