How cool is it when you find a female-fronted band in your local area that makes good music?! I had no clue there was such a band in the Boston area – until last year. I met Avariel’s bassist Ryan Kelly during an Epica show last year, and he gave me a copy of Avariel’s latest demo. It didn’t take me long after that to call myself a fan.
Avariel is known as Boston’s “symphonic metal experience.” That’s exactly what this band is. Its five members combine influences from American and European metal styles to create a bold, dynamic style that’s reminiscent of Nightwish, Within Temptation, and Epica. Avariel singer Shannon Kelly (who is Ryan’s older sister) isn’t classically trained, but she has a powerful voice that soars above the sweeping arrangements and hammering metal.
In May 2010, Avariel released its debut album, The Dawn. This 9-track release offers lots of variety for a symphonic metal album, from straightforward, catchy tracks to longer, more epic numbers. The music also features progressive and death metal influences, which add some interesting twists to some songs. My personal favorites are the brutal “Victim,” the rally call “Bleed,” the cinematic ballad “Dark Harbor,” and the 12-minute closer “Phoenix.”
Avariel is:
- Shannon Kelly – Vocals
- Michael Rose– Lead Guitars, Keyboards/Piano
- Scott McDonald – Rhythm Guitars, Growls
- Ryan Kelly – Bass
- Jay Narbonne – Drums
Check Avariel out at Facebook, Myspace, or ReverbNation. And say we recommended them to you!
You can also buy The Dawn on iTunes or Amazon.
~ Sara
July 24th, 2011 at 5:02 pm
[...] Dame Nation bands we’ve covered: A Sound of Thunder, Avariel, Deadmanswake, Lindz Riot (Mary and the Black Lamb), Losing Scarlet, Shield of [...]
July 25th, 2011 at 9:21 am
[...] Dame Nation bands we’ve covered: A Sound of Thunder, Avariel, Deadmanswake, Lindz Riot (Mary and the Black Lamb), Losing Scarlet, Shield of Wings and [...]
July 31st, 2011 at 8:18 pm
[...] Avariel, a symphonic metal band from Boston, Massachusetts. [...]