Ward XVI - Metamorphosis
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Band: Ward
XVI
Album: Metamorphosis
Release
date: September 25, 2020
Record
label: Metal Rocka Recordings
Genre: Horror, circus, shock rock
From:
Whittingham, northern England, UK
Ward XVI consists of Psychoberrie - vocals and lyrics, Doctor von Stottenstei - guitars and Wolfy Huntsman - bass.
For this release they are joined by John Badger – drums (ex-Impavidus) Martin Crawley - keys & accordion (SarifMusic), Anabelle Iratni – operatic vocals (Devilment), Russ Custard – guest vocals on “Shadows” (Footprints in the Custard), Chris Barton – voice acting as The Psychiatris on “Retrogression” and Steve Walker – voice acting as The Judge on “The Verdict”
If you are a fan of concept albums and songs that tell a story, this album is definitively for you. Already the the intro, which makes me think of one of the intros on the Operation Mindcrime album, sets the mood for the story and tells the listener that we will delve deeper in the story introduced by the band’s first album The Art of Manipulation.
The album is well arranged and well produced. The sound is rich and makes the album sound like an album that could have been released on one of the big labels. At the same time, I’m happy that it isn’t over compressed or over processed, but retains both dynamics and warmth.
I think it would be far to limiting to place Ward XVI into just one style. To call the music Theatrical Avant-Garde Rock gives however some idea what you are in for. Here there are both symphonic and theatrical elements, 90s heavy metal, rock and much more. There is definitively a Tom Waits - vibe, and the music also reminds me of Norwegian bands like Kaizers Orchestra and Vulture Industries.
I like the mix of styles, all fitting into the general sound of this album and helping to drive the story forward. This is not the heaviest album, however it has a great drive and groove, and can get heavy on the drumming and guitar work where the story calls for it. At its heaviest, the album has a certain industrial metal vibe, with heavy, chugging rhythm guitar and buzzing, dark synthesizer in the background.
The album is really carried by Psychoberrie s vocals. I like the variation in singing styles she is able to present, really illustrating the different emotions of the main character: the fear, the anger and the pain, particularly on the songs “A Goodnight Shot” and “Shadows”
While the
guitar is mostly in the background, the Doctor doesn’t play strictly rhythm,
but gives us some fitting, melodic solos that build on the existing themes of
the songs rather than degenerating into song-unrelated shred. I really like his
wah pedal work.
I also like the use of what I believe to be a banjo on “Catch me if you can”
With so much going on in the arrangements, the bass necessarily has to take a back seat. However, Wolfy Huntsman still adds to the depth and groove of this album.
Beyond the instrumental work, the album is very well arranged, with great use of organ and synths, both for the circus and gypsy styled parts in the first half of the album, as well as the epic symphonic sections in the 2nd half. Based on the compositions, I think it makes sense to divide the album in two, the first part being more about Psychoberries childhood and the 2nd starting with her first kill.
I like especially the melodic break Martin Crawley performs on the song Broken Toys.
The drumming on this album is a big part of the drive and pulse, and I believe having John Badger performing them was a good choice. Hopefully he stays with the band for future albums.
The lyrics are well written, and is as central to setting the mood as are the arrangements. Masterfully presented by Psychoberries vocals, we are drawn into the story.
The story is well made. The realism, even in the diagnosis that is set, makes the protagonist a much more interesting character and much deeper than how she was presented in the first album.
While the first album had a certain comic book and horror movie style, in this album, the story became much more real, with the journey being both believable, emotionally engaging and therefore much darker.
While the album title “Metamorphosis“ conveys that this album tells how Psychoberrie transited form a little girl into a killer, this album also is the metamorphosis of Psychoberrie from a two dimensional, somewhat cartoonish character into a deep and realistic person we can feel sorry for.
Would I buy the album? I already did. And you should buy it as well:
On bandcamp: https://wardxvi.bandcamp.com/
Or from
their website: https://wardxvi.com/
You can also follow Ward XVI on facebook, Instagram and twitter, or join
their facebook group
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