VENIA - VICTORY BY SURRENDER / 2009 / DISCOGRAPHY / BIOGRAPHY / REVIEW

THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(11-TRACKS)
1-TOWARDS A NEW DAWN
2-LIBERTY
3-SUORA TIE
4-BROKEN CHAINS
5-AI MUN TARBITSE
6-GENESIS
7-TAIVAASSA
8-ETERNAL SANTUARY
9-VICTORY SANTUARY
10-THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB
11-A SIGH OF REDEMPTION
VENIA - IN OUR WEAKNESS / 2005















THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(5-TRACKS)
1-KAIPUU
2-ILLUSION
3-THE PATH
4-HEIKKO(Weak)
5-NO MORE
VENIA - GENESIS DEMO 2004















THIS DEMO CONTAIN(7-TRACKS)
1-FALSE SECURITY
2-EI MUN TARVITSE
3-TORMENTED SOULS
4-ETERNAL SANTUARY
5-TAIVAASSA
6-MIKS
7-GENESIS
CREDITS:
Viktor Fagerström - Guitar, BackVocals (Bleakwail)
Jere Veijalainen - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Juhani Palttala - Bass, Backing Vocals (Megiddon)
Antti Melasniemi - Drums
Veronica Solje - Session Vocals, Violin
Daniel Puolimatka - Drums









REVIEW:(Victory By Surrender)
(Myspace)
The debut full length album from Finland's female fronted melodic power metal band! This album will be loved by all that are fans of this genre...the group’s 2009 full length follow up effort on Open Grave Records, heads in the same musician direction with its joining of power metal and technical thrash. What I find unique about is how Venia (Fin) it joins very heavy and aggressive music with clean female vocals and occasional extreme vocals. It is a combination that works best on “Liberty” (albums catchiest piece), “Victory By Surrender” (due to its dramatic flavorings) and “A Sigh Of Redemption” (a progressive based track that breaks down into five parts). Other notable compositions include the technically driven “Genesis” and melodic based semi-ballad “Taivaassa”. Instrumental “Eternal Sanctuary” deserves mention as well,The bands performance remains a strong point. Veronica continues to give Venia its signature sound with her melodic vocal presence. Any shaky elements to her delivery have been smoothed out, as is demonstrated on the beautiful chorus to “A Sigh Of Redemption” and haunting “Taivaassa”. Viktor and Jere return with their signature heavy duty riffing, knowing when to pick up the pace to a near speed metal romp but instinctively slowing things to a more measured tempo when need calls for it. Newcomer Juhani Palttala fills in on bass while Daniel Puolimatka puts in a monster showing on drums (his work on “Eternal Sanctuary” is quite impressive)

“Liberty” ranks with the albums finest. Driven and mid-paced, the song delivers quite the wallop its first several minutes with layers of thick rhythm guitars over a dogged drum sound. Moving past its halfway point, “Liberty” obtains quite the catchy bridge – gripping and very melodic – talking about the true source of liberty:

“Suora tie”, the first of three Finnish tracks, proves six minutes of technical metal. The song presents with its share of time changes, ranging from slower bass guitar driven moments, all out rhythm guitar assaults and calmer passages upheld by a quietly played guitar. A slight repetitive feel to its chorus, unfortunately, is the only factor preventing “Suora tie” from holding up under continuous play.









“Broken Chains” represents a fast paced and aggressive – almost speed metal based – piece. Slowly fading into a drum solo, the song rollicks through its lively chorus and hard charging verses in establishing quite the decisive environs. A touch of the repetitive, again, is the only element potentially holding things back. The message here ties into that of “Liberty”:

The pace slows somewhat on “Ei mun tarvitse”. What we have here is a more melodic based piece with its reduced tempo and traces of vocal harmonies. But melodic, on the other hands, means no less heavy, reflected in its ample use of rhythm guitar and assertively mixed low end.

The power thrash of “Genesis” begins to several seconds of militant drums before kicking into high gear. The song gradually builds momentum until – after nearly stopping dead in its tracks – breaks out in upbeat fashion for a frenetic chorus in which several relevant questions are asked:

As it roars ahead, “Genesis” features occasional extreme vocals mixed with galloping riffs, spoken word delivery and Gregorian-like backing vocals (for its final chorus to help create an emotional atmosphere). The song ultimately reaches an eventful conclusion:

“Taivaassa” is the closest any of the albums material comes to falling within ballad territory. The song presents with a big chorus – expertly upheld by plenty of backing vocals and guitar – while a quietly played guitar plays a leading role for its more tranquil verses. Impetus briefly picks up for a raucous instrumental section.

Instrumental “Eternal Sanctuary” takes quite the wild ride with its joining of driving mid-paced moments and others carried at a faster tempo in being backed by double bass (back-and-forth-and-back-and-forth-again). As the song moves past its second half, we are treated to some boisterous shouted backing vocals before it comes to a complete stop only to again take off in up-tempo fashion.

The albums dramatic title track begins to a stretch of heavy as it gets riffing. Maintaining the bone crushing momentum as it plows through its first three verses, “Victory By Surrender” moves on to a passage featuring narration in the form of the voice of God. A galloping instrumental section adds to the dramatic feel while the voice of God reasserts itself again, upholding the songs themes of trust and surrender:

An emotional edge is delivered on “The Blood Of The Lamb”. Similar to “Ein mun tarvitse” this one heads in a more melodic direction but delivers its share of heaviness as well. Viktor showcases one of the albums better runs of lead guitar. A faith based piece, you cannot help but be inspired by the songs lyrical direction, “A Sigh Of Redemption” breaks down into five parts. The first, “Prelude”, is an instrumental featuring a blend of violin and speed metal riffing. “From Temptation To Guilt”, part two, transitions between verses carried by extreme vocals and a stately chorus upheld by Veronica’s smoother delivery. All the while the message revolves around temptation and forgiveness:

“A Sigh Of Redemption” breaks down into five parts. The first, “Prelude”, is an instrumental featuring a blend of violin and speed metal riffing. “From Temptation To Guilt”, part two, transitions between verses carried by extreme vocals and a stately chorus upheld by Veronica’s smoother delivery. All the while the message revolves around temptation and forgiveness:

“Inner Conflict” is a lengthy instrumental beginning at the more subdued tempo before taking off in a fast paced manner while Veronica and the extreme voice return for the lone verse making up “The Key”. Instrumental “Redemption” closes out the songs final minutes in driving fashion.

The best way to summarize would be to state I like how Venia combines elements of the melodic and extreme- both musically and vocally. That said, there are a few too many songs here I struggle with; as previously noted, an occasionally lack of melody is the only element holding things back. Lyrics and production, on the other hand, represent strengths. All around, if you enjoy Venia’s work on In Our Weakness – or groups that employ a power metal and thrash sound – then by all means give Victory By Surrender a chance(http://www.holymetalrob.com/)