I have not had the pleasure of Selena’s past sins but looking at things this is only the group’s second album and the follow up to 2007 release ‘Overdosed On You.’ I suppose one could use a description here of FFFGM that is Finnish Female Fronted Gothic Metal although the gothic part is a pretty lazy description as everything of that ilk seems to pick up the tag nowadays. I have had so many similar releases this year that remembering them all would be impossible, and although this did not stand out from the crowd and bowl me over it was a album that was instantly enjoyable and one I was more than comfortable to give a repeated listen to and review. FSAS are shortly off to embark on a European tour with Manzana and Teardown who I have also never heard of and by European I naturally mean parts of Europe but not the UK where booking agents seem to think that we do not appreciate this type of music and to be fair audience attendances have done little to sway their opinions. Anyway, ready to skip down the Primrose Path and see what we find on the way?
The artwork on the booklet here is all very grey and to be fair it is Finnish and is reflected in the music which has cold hues amongst the songs aplenty. After a Katatonian etched guitar strum opener ‘Countdown To The Stars’ surprises with an upbeat and downright catchy chorus, this is a strong opener and we are instantly warmed by singer Annika Jalkanen’s vocals. Flamboyant guitars pave the gaps and the song is well constructed, barbed with hooks and pretty damn infectious. From the stars we go to a Finnish fascination with ‘Bring Me The Sun,’ well it’s to be expected really considering it disappears for so many months over there. Guitars here speak two words as the song unravels ‘Paradise Lost’ yep there are shades of the god here and one almost expects some dour Yorkshire vocals but instead we get Annika leading the song into ever spiralling heights that really do touch with their heat. ‘Rusty Rails Of Yesterday’ is an odd reflective ballad with lyrics about playing Morrisey which at first had me thinking I had misheard and checking the lyric book. It’s certainly heartfelt and again tempestuous as it gets its hooks into you.
It is not until the 6th number ‘Broken Mirror’ when a secret weapon is unleashed. There have been some backing male vocals but suddenly guest Tuomas Tuominen of Fall Of The Leafe gets a couple of lines and has a roar that remind again of Paradise Lost’s Nick Holmes. It is just now looking at their biog and searching for info on this singer that I discover that one song on the album that I really like for Annika’s beseeching vocal clamour, ‘Confide In Me’ is actually a Kylie Minogue cover, well that was a surprise!
Remaining consistent over 12 tracks two of which are apparently bonus numbers this is a good album from a band who have the potential to get a much wider audience. I can certainly see why a label such as Mascot have picked them up on their second album and this one is going to be getting a fair few more spins around these parts for sure.
http://www.forselena.net
http://www.myspace.com/forselenaandsin
