Valkyrian Music

Band: Sarah Jezebel Deva
Album: The Corruption Of Mercy
Release year: 2011
Genre: Symphonic Metal/Gothic Metal

Sarah Jezebel Deva, well known for her work with bands such as Cradle Of Filth, Therion, Mortiis and Angtoria, is certainly one of the most impressive vocalists within the Gothic Metal and Symphonic Metal communities. Following the success of “A Sign Of Sublime”, Sarah is back with her second solo album “The Corruption Of Mercy”.

”No Paragon Of Virtue” starts the album with an electro-symphonic introduction which is soon replaced by a brutalising guitar section combined with a dramatic orchestrated section. The vocals, as expected, are strong, powerful and immense. The orchestrated medleys blend well with the heavy barrage of drums guitars and bass. “No Paragon Of Virtue” certainly leaves the listener wanting to hear more. “The World Won’t Hold Your Hand” follows after. The intro, for a few short seconds, sounds to be a very slow, calm medley but turns out to be the calm before a terrorising and violent guitar section. The drums are precise to the beat working well alongside the guitar and bass. The orchestration can only be described as epic. Again, the vocals are powerful, which is to be expected. The guitar solo, however, completes the track, making it one of the best on the album.

The third track, “A Matter Of Convenience” starts with a more softer riff compared to “No Paragon of Virtue” and “The World Won’t Hold Your Hand” and it is more synth-heavy as well. The vocals match the softness very well, bringing a very solemn feel to the track. The drum and guitar sections are well composed. “Silence Please” comes next with a very dark, symphonic intro, setting a very tense and dramatic atmosphere for the listener. The vocals sound eerie alongside the orchestration which adds to the tense atmosphere. Unfortunately, the guitars and drums are faded to begin with, struggling to make themselves heard. As the track progresses the guitars and drums can be heard more and more, fortunately.

Like the previous album, “The Corruption Of Mercy” also features a cover. This time the cover is a song called “Zombies”, originally by “The Cranberries”. It is a brilliant cover and Sarah has worked well to make it sound like her own. “Pretty With Effects” follows after being entirely composed of a beautiful piano medley combined with some very impressive vocal work. It certainly is a perfect example of Sarah’s vocal talent. “What Lies Before You” is the only interlude on the track, bringing a touch of eeriness to the album with its orchestration and choirs.

”Sirens” begins with an aggressive and somewhat violently fast paced riff. The drums are precise and intelligently played, while the vocals are still going strong and the guitar sections are most impressive. The second to last track is “The Eyes That Lie”. The intro is different to the rest of the album, beginning with a barrage of double bass pedals and vocals. The track eventually turns heavier with the introduction of a more bloodthirsty guitar riff. However, this track seems lacking compared to the rest of the album. The final track, which is also the title track, “The Corruption Of Mercy” begins with a heavy yet calm intro. The vocals are still going strong and the drums are as good as they have been on the rest of the album. The use of a piano and vocal section about half way through is both unexpected and brilliant. The track does go back to being heavy, which is fortunate for those who prefer heavy riffage compared to calm medleys. “The Corruption Of Mercy” is a perfect end for the album.

It’s clear that Sarah Jezebel Deva has been able to establish her own sound since leaving Cradle of Filth and this album is proof of that. It mixes her wide vocal range and talent with an immense mix of Gothic and Symphonic Metal to create a masterpiece of an album. Hopefully, there will be more releases from Sarah in the near future.

5/5

Nico Davidson

Related articles

• Sarah Jezebel Deva – The Corruption of Mercy [2011] (valkyrianmusic.com)

This entry was posted on 12th July 2011 at 1:28 pm and is filed under Review with tags Angtoria, British Metal, Cradle Of Filth, Gothic Metal, Sarah Jezebel Deva, Symphonic Metal, The Corruption Of Mercy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.