Review of Stream of Passion - Embrace The Storm

Though to me, Stream of Passion sounds like an art house name for a German Golden Shower movie, it’s actually the moniker of a pretty competent female fronted Goth Metal/Rock act from the Netherlands (where else?). Though not as operatically gregarious as Nightwish or Epica, Stream of Passion have all the female fronted Goth rock elements present in spades and when compared directly to obvious peers, have a much more progressive yet sobering, depressive ambience about them.

Rather than overbearing, sweeping majestics, Stream of Passion are about undulating, delicate atmospheres and understated ambience that includes elegant Latina front woman Marcela Bovio who never reaches soprano hysterics or who is backed by choirs, but remains beautifully dominant and level throughout. There are never any really catchy choruses (with the exception of maybe “Deceiver”), bouncy moments or orchestral grandiosity, but rather darkly artistic beauty. The end result could be construed as a less suicidal Madder Mortem or less orchestral Epica.

Essentially composed and recorded over the internet by guitarist/composer/producer Arjen Anthony Lucassen (of Ayreon fame), Embrace the Storm sounds as you’d expect this sort of album to sound: lush with emphasis on the vocals and keys. Tracks like “I’ll Keep on Dreaming”, “Wherever You Are”, “Open Your Eyes” and the Kate Bush-like title track define Stream of Passion’s sound; controlled, hypnotic and delicately epic yet tainted with sadness. A few tracks, like “Haunted” have a more traditional Gothic metal crunch amid Bovio’s mesmerizing whispers, and the ballad “Out in the Real World” has more recognizable Goth metal pacing, but when you listen to “Nostalgia” you hear that on the strength of Bovio’s voice alone, Stream of Passion have the potential to be something more better than just another female fronted Goth metal act with the guy from Ayreon in it. It’s a pity the album ends on the overly progressive and angular “Calliopeia”.

For those looking for something a little different to the usual female fronted Goth metal fluff, Stream of Passion is the perfect recommendation as it’s different without being too foreign and Marcela Bovio looks to be a rising star in the genre.

Release Details

Stream of Passion

Embrace The Storm

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