Fairyland - The Fall Of An Empire (2006) Review by Stewart Mason Returning … Read Full Bio ↴Fairyland - The Fall Of An Empire (2006)
Review by Stewart Mason
Returning from an extended sabbatical that saw most of the band's lineup turn over, French prog metal outfit Fairyland return with their most symphonic album yet. Opening with a blatant Carmina Burana ripoff intro track called "Endgame" (which reappears in various guises thrice more over the course of the album, like it's a recurrent theme in the Lord of the Rings soundtracks or something), Fall of an Empire sounds like some kind of ill-conceived cross between lightweight '80s poodle metal (both of the male vocalists sound like they should be singing "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" in front of a local cover band) and the worst, most Rick Wakeman-like excesses of '70s prog: conceptual lyrics furthering a basically incomprehensible storyline, lifts of classical motifs so blatant they would make Keith Emerson himself roll his eyes, and an overall stench of self-seriousness rarely found outside of small circles of Ayn Rand readers and/or Rush fans. Those who don't fall into either of those categories would probably find "The Fall of an Empire" inadvertently hilarious, but somewhere out there is a guy who lives in his mom's basement and works part-time at the local comic store who's going to think this is the best album ever.
Credits
Didier Chesneau - Mixing, Vocal Engineer, Drum Engineering
Philippe Giordana - Keyboards, Vocals (bckgr), Concept, Group Member
Peter in de Betou - Mastering
Anthony Parker - Guitar, Group Member
Review by Stewart Mason
Returning from an extended sabbatical that saw most of the band's lineup turn over, French prog metal outfit Fairyland return with their most symphonic album yet. Opening with a blatant Carmina Burana ripoff intro track called "Endgame" (which reappears in various guises thrice more over the course of the album, like it's a recurrent theme in the Lord of the Rings soundtracks or something), Fall of an Empire sounds like some kind of ill-conceived cross between lightweight '80s poodle metal (both of the male vocalists sound like they should be singing "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" in front of a local cover band) and the worst, most Rick Wakeman-like excesses of '70s prog: conceptual lyrics furthering a basically incomprehensible storyline, lifts of classical motifs so blatant they would make Keith Emerson himself roll his eyes, and an overall stench of self-seriousness rarely found outside of small circles of Ayn Rand readers and/or Rush fans. Those who don't fall into either of those categories would probably find "The Fall of an Empire" inadvertently hilarious, but somewhere out there is a guy who lives in his mom's basement and works part-time at the local comic store who's going to think this is the best album ever.
Credits
Didier Chesneau - Mixing, Vocal Engineer, Drum Engineering
Philippe Giordana - Keyboards, Vocals (bckgr), Concept, Group Member
Peter in de Betou - Mastering
Anthony Parker - Guitar, Group Member
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The Fall Of An Empire
Fairyland Lyrics
Anmorkenta Take him down, take him down, take him down, take…
Clanner of the Light Light will come and shine on me again Wake up! Broken my…
Eldanie Uellë Once was a time, in the white desert cold And a…
In Duna Silently black winter comes Tears of pain deep in our heart…
Look Into Lost Years [Flora Spinelli from Kerion] Ado shara imbesi derio Are …
Lost In The Dark Lands The power balance has failed And death is stronger than us …
The Awakening Mourning time has worn away Hope fulfills our dreams Burie…
The Fall of an Empire So much of our battle and the freedom of Osyrhia The darknes…
The Story Remains Deep in our hearts By this time, we've crossed so many…
The Walls Of Laemnil Suffering no more today Not today! Believe in us, we are n…