MERCY ISLE – “Undying fire”

Release: 2016-10-21

Label: self-published

Genre: Melodic Metal

Duration: 44:00

Pia S. 0 Comment 21/09/2016

EP extended – MERCY ISLE release a full album

After releasing their EP “Storm” via crowdfunding, MERCY ISLE repeated the call-to-action and collected enough money to produce a full-length album. You’ll find all songs of the EP on “Undying fire” except ‘I’m gonna make it’. The new output is not a concept album but the tracklist is not just that – the songs benefit from their sequence which gives the album a special drive.

Again, MERCY ISLE offered funny perks for their contributors. For example, they offered to create a one-minute-track with everything the contributor wants Kassandra Novell to sing.

Wake up! New alarm?

The first track – a new one – is a smart start. With a kind of ring to it, you could also use it as your alarm in the morning. You’ll never be sleepy again when you have to get up! ‘Wake up’ already offers everything the listener can expect from the album. Kassandra proves that she can sing every vocal style on earth and the sound in general is really good! Especially the vocals come out perfectly, thanks to vocal producer Amanda Somerville.

‘Stop, kiss me’ has a sound which I personally didn’t connect with MERCY ISLE – but it suits them very well! It’s kind of a mid-tempo ballad with tons of tragedy, followed by the really cheesy ballad ‘If I could’ – cheesy in a positive way! Nice one!

Discovering new facettes.

Goosebumps are guaranteed with ‘I am’ – reminding me of early LEAVES’ EYES. A very slow and mystical song. I don’t want to talk that much about the old songs, but I have to mention that Amanda Somerville added guest vocals on ‘Saying goodbye’. The two ladies’ voices match perfectly in another sad ballad. MERCY ISLE refuel for ‘Come to me’ and put all their power into that song. It truly rocks! It’ll shake the audience at every concert. ‘The ghost’ closes off the album, again with power. This is the only song which seems unfinished. Something is missing from this one.

Overall, “Undying fire” is a great debut album – what else did we expect from such experienced musicians? What suites the album really good is that Chad Novell‘s vocals are present now – best example is ‘Stop, kiss me’. MERCY ISLE invites the audience to listen over and over again, because there is still something to discover, even when listening for the 10th time. The album is not a milestone in Female fronted metal and doesn’t reinvent the wheel. But it’s a great piece of music with which you’ll have a lot of fun and a great time for sure!