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Echoes of Eternity: The Forgotten Goddess

The atmospheric and classy instrumental "Burning With Life" sets the tone for The Forgotten Goddess, the debut album from the transcontinental quartet elegantly dubbed Echoes of Eternity. Most of the disc doesn't quite live up to that spectacular opening — although the manic-turned-glorious "Voices in a Dream" comes close — but the album is still a joy to hear. Comprised of members from the United States, Canada and Japan, Echoes of Eternity apparently set out to meld power, progressive and extreme metal fronted by a vocally and visually gorgeous singer named Francine Boucher. Guitarist Brandon S. Patton even makes some out-there references to Death's Symbolic album in the promo materials accompanying this record.

Truth be told, The Forgotten Goddess packs more power and progressive punch than extreme-metal prowess. "Towers of Silence" may be sluggishly heavy, but "The Kingdom Within" is a steamy ballad, and on "Circles In Stone" Boucher and her organic voice sound like Candice Night might were she not fronting a Renaissance-rock band with Ritchie Blackmore. Patton's fretwork is clean and tasty, while Boucher makes a play for metal's most-appealing front woman in, oh, so many ways. The Forgotten Goddess is a dark and mysterious yet bright-sounding record that has more in common with work by fellow female-fronted bands like Lunatica and Edenbridge than Epica and Nightwish.

Keep an eye on this one…


Track Listing:
1) Burning With Life
2) Expressions of Flesh
3) Voices In A Dream
4) Towers of Silence
5) The Forgotten Goddess
6) The Kingdom Within
7) Circles In Stone
8) Garden of the Gods
9) Lost Beneath A Silent Sky
10) Adrift

Added: July 19th 2015
Reviewer: Michael Popke
Score:
Related Link: Official Echoes of Eternity Web Site
Hits: 4553
Language: english

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» SoT Staff Roundtable Reviews:

Echoes of Eternity: The Forgotten Goddess
Posted by Jon Neudorf, SoT Staff Writer on 2015-07-19 10:46:21
My Score:

Los Angeles based Echoes Of Eternity formed in 2005 and have two albums to their credit; their 2007 debut The Forgotten Goddess, the subject of this review and their sophomore effort As Shadows Burn, released in 2009. Apparently the band called it quits in 2013.

The players on this release are Brandon Patton (guitars), Kirk Carrison (drums), Duane Cowan (bass) and Quebec native Francine Boucher (vocals).

Like most modern thrash style metal albums, the guitar riffs are heavy, fast and very prominent in the mix as is Carrison's pummeling drum work. In that regard, The Forgotten Goddess does not really set itself apart from other metal albums of the same genre. The vocals, however, are another story. Instead of the typical screams and growls we get Boucher's beautifully melodic clean voice, a real highlight throughout the disc. Rather than an over the top approach, as say someone like Tarja, Boucher has an understated style and graces these tunes with an added elegance they so surely need.

The album starts with the short "Burning With Life" and its delicate guitar intro intensified with metallic riffage and softened with Boucher's soothing background harmonies. "Expressions Of Flesh" is a faster piece but with Boucher's slow and clear delivery. "Voices In A Dream" transitions between heavy and soft and is quite technical in places. This one has a gothic feel, particularly in the lead vocals. Heavy choppy guitar and Boucher's angelic vocals, in both French and English, highlight the title track. "The Kingdom Within" is a lushly orchestrated piece with cello and violin and interrupted with jackhammer-like riffs. The album ends with the purely orchestral "Adrift" with lovely background harmonies, gently plucked guitar and an abundance of strings.

The album artwork is visually striking and well done and certainly quite impressive considering this was the band's first release.

The Forgotten Goddess is a very good metal album from a band that had tons of potential. Too bad there would only be one more album in their future. Re-released by Metal Mind Productions as a gold disc, limited to 2000 copies.

Echoes of Eternity: The Forgotten Goddess
Posted by Ken Pierce, SoT Staff Writer on 2007-02-02 06:30:22
My Score:

Effective immediately the United States is joining its European allies in presenting quality female-fronted Symphonic Power Metal with a secret weapon called Echoes Of Eternity. EOE is truly a WMD (weapon of musical destruction) that will make those who believe this stuff can only come from Finland, Norway or elsewhere check that opinion at the door. This is a super-powered musical force with the stunning Siren Francine Boucher upfront delivering the goods as if her destiny was at stake. Right off the bat the group proves that they are a little different from the existing roster of such bands based on the manner in which the music is delivered. There is a machine gun technical presence where the drumming is concerned and this is perhaps due to Kirk Carrison working in numerous Death Metal projects with guitarist Brandon Patton before they went with the idea of a female led enterprise. The bass work is held down fluidly by Duane Cowan. As I enjoyed EOE I would have to say that the role of "chick singer" is no longer something lamented by bands, as the genre of Melodic Death and Symphonic Operatic has truly taken over a large market share and audience demographic. This is apparent to any eye when one looks at the bands performing today - we have Epica, Tristania, Leaves Eyes and numerous others building a fan base that often staggers the imagination. Its bands like this that also inspires more women to explore this side of their musical talent for the future. On The Forgotten Goddess, the listener will find that EOE is a band that seems the master of quick patterns, odd time signature changes and a style that will definitely win over both the Progressive and Technical Metal fans. The blistering speeds at times and passionate melody at others show them worthy of not only sharing the stage with other bands of note but also the ability to run the show – they are not a clone of existing bands but yet a perfect newcomer to the party.

I felt that this was also a group that fans of Epica will quickly relate to as many similar speeds are approached on the EOE release. They will surely be impressing people everywhere with songs such as "Voices In A Dream" & "The Forgotten Goddess" (which appears to also be sung partially in French). Another favorite of mine was "Lost Beneath A Silent Sky" as it becomes the perfect closer for the ending credits music of "Adrift". While I believe firmly that great musicians can come from any part of the world, it was truly excellent to find out that this band was from Los Angeles, California. The band was formed in September 2004 and as you see the recording deal was not long in coming for them. "TFG" is a fresh debut that's both exciting and impressive with every track. I am sure that the lovely Francine will find that her photos are adorning the lockers of Metal heads everywhere - make some room for her.

Echoes of Eternity: The Forgotten Goddess
Posted by Pete Pardo, SoT Staff Writer on 2007-01-30 17:24:16
My Score:

Smartly choosing to veer from the gothic metal style that so many of their female fronted peers seem to choose these days, Echoes of Eternity's The Forgotten Goddess is a pleasant progressive/power metal debut from this international ensemble. Featuring the thick and crunchy guitar work of Brandon S. Patton, the sublime & ethereal vocals of the drop-dead gorgeous Francine Boucher, and the steadfast rhythm section of bassist Duance Cowen & drummer Kirk Carrison, Echoes of Eternity have put together ten memorable tracks here that rely just as much on heavy arrangements as it does dark, atmospheric, and melodic passages. Patton's metallic riffing mixes well with Boucher's crooning on the bombastic "Voices in a Dream", a song that perfectly mixes metal's thunder with the intricacies of progressive rock. Plus it helps that the song has an irresistible chorus. Elsewhere, Patton propels some mammoth power chords on "Towers of Silence" that sound like a throwback to Master of Puppets era Metallica,and "Lost Beneath a Silent Sky" is just a classy progressive metal song all around, and features a great vocal from Boucher.

As good as the overall sound is on The Forgotten Goddess, it's ultimately the killer riffs from Patton that really makes this album. Couple these incredible guitar excursions with classy female vocals and a tight rhythm section, as well as some catchy songs, and you have what looks like the start of a great career for Echoes of Eternity.



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