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Phavian: Meridian II
Phavian Meridian II Album Review

Phavian: Meridian II

Folk/Symphonic/Power Metal
3.5/5.0

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Independent / Self-released
by Craig Hartranft,  03.19.2013

Coming to Phavian's third release, Meridian II, is like coming into the middle of the first or second season of a television series recommended to you by a friend. You don't really know what's happening with the narrative or the characters. You have to play 'catch up' to get what's going on.

Phavian Band Photo

Phavian:: outdoors.

According to the band, Meridian II is the second installment of a tetralogy (something in four parts) to be played out over the next year or two. The story is rather complex: check their website for more details.

Basically, what you have here is a synthesis of classic metal with symphonic, folk, and power metal nuances with a female lead vocals at the forefront. At first spin, it's easy to dismiss Phavian simply because there are so many female-fronted bands out there, and this is simply another one. That's not to dismiss Elizabeth Matson as a vocalist. She's rather engaging. At times she reminds me of Annie Haslam from the early English prog band Renaissance. Conversely, sometimes she's nearly smothered by the music: Watersong is an example. Then again, this track is probably the most expansive and best representation of Phavian's style.

While clearly another rock in the pile of female-fronted metal bands genre, Phavian still tries to cut their own path. It's a familiar path, sometimes engaging, other times predictable. Let's hope their creativity allows them to rise above the genre fray with future releases.


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In Short

While clearly another rock in the pile of female-fronted metal bands genre, Phavian still tries to cut their own path. It's a familiar path, sometimes engaging, other times predictable. Let's hope their creativity allows them to rise above the genre fray with future releases.

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