You can pick up a digital copy of the album at Amazon or CDbaby, and make sure to ‘like’ Modified on facebook!

Ok, so it’s a little awkward to write about a band who’s only (officially) released one song so far, but I feel like Huntress is a good enough discovery for me to do just that. Formed in Highland Park, California in 2009, Huntress signed a deal with Napalm Records last year and released a badass music video for their equally badass single, “Eight of Swords.” Check it out below:

Ok, that banshee scream by vocalist Jill might be a turn-off for some, but I personally am damn impressed! Add to that the fantastic instrumental work and that classic metal sound with a bit of pagan flair, and I’m sold! If the rest of the band’s debut, Spell Eater, due out April 27th in Europe and May 8th in the US, is anything like this song, the CD is bound to melt before I’ve listened to it enough.

Don’t think you can wait to hear more? Huntress is one of the band’s featured on this year’s Paganfest America tour this spring, supporting Turisas, Alestorm, Ex Deo and Arkona! Make sure to check them out, along with the other fantastic bands on the bill (especially Arkona!)

Huntress are:

• Jill Janus – Vocals
• Blake Meahl – Lead Guitar
• Ian Alden – Rhythm Guitar
• Carl Wierzbicky – Drums
• Eric Harris – Bass

For more info, check out the band’s official website and facebook!

~ Max

Our original plan was to feature the top 10 vote-getting albums. However, due to a three-way tie for the last spot, we have 12 albums instead! Let’s see if you can identify the albums in the collage below!

Thanks very much to Mimi of the UtF staff for putting this image together!

So, now you see the covers of the honored albums.  Here is a more detailed list of the winners:

1. Modified – Modified
2. Dama – Eirwen
3. (tie) Stream of Passion – Darker Days
3. (tie) Echoterra – Land of the Midnight Sun
5. Crysalys – The Awakening of Gaia
6. Nemesea – The Quiet Resistance
7. Amaranthe – Amaranthe
8. Only Fate Remains – Breathe
9. Benedictum – Dominion
10. (tie) Cassandra Syndrome – Satire X
10. (tie) Draconian – A Rose for the Apocalypse
10. (tie) Noctura – Surrender the Sun

Once again, thanks to everyone who voted this year!  The Awards were a great success – so let’s have it again next year, shall we?

This latest poll was a fight to the finish between French symphonic metallers Opus Doria and Canadian hard rockers Modified. Every day we saw a flip-flop in the leaderboard: Opus Doria, Modified, Opus Doria, Modified… And in the final days of voting, Modified made a big enough push to claim the Band of the Month honors for February 2012!

Click here for Modified’s Band of the Month page.

Over 5,000 votes were cast this past month! Here are the final results:

1. Modified – 2,783 votes (54.59%)
2. Opus Doria – 2,143 votes (42.04%)
3. The Mariana Hollow – 90 votes (1.77%)
4. Voices of Destiny – 57 votes (1.12%)
5. Evenoire – 25 votes (0.49%)

It’s now time to start our March 2012 Band of the Month Poll!  Your choices are:

• Alpine Fault, a progressive metal band originally from Auckland, New Zealand. The band now resides in Brisbane, Australia, where they’re promoting their recently released debut album Iraena’s Ashes.
• Elyose, an electro-symphonic metal band from Paris, France. Elyose will release its debut album Théogyne on March 1st.
• Midnight Cry, a symphonic rock band from Spokane, Washington, USA. Originally a Christmas and Trans-Siberian Orchestra cover band, Midnight Cry finally released their first album of original music, Fight For This Crime, last November.
• Nightqueen, a heavy metal band from Genk, Belgium. Nightqueen will release its debut album For Queen and Metal via Massacre Records on February 24th.
• Pythia, a classical/gothic metal band from London, United Kingdom. Pythia’s second album, The Serpent’s Curse, will be released on February 27th.

As always, visit our WordPress site and scroll down to find the poll on the right-hand sidebar. Vote once a day, every day through Wednesday, February 29th!

Which bands would you like to see featured in our next Band of the Month Poll? Let us know by sending an email to unleashthefuriesmetal@gmail.com.

Instead of highlighting albums, we chose to highlight bands. All of us at Unleash The Furies discovered a wealth of female-fronted rock and metal bands this past year – some of which didn’t actually release any albums in 2011, but got heavy rotation in our music players regardless. With this idea in mind, four of our staff writers sat down and picked their favorite discoveries of 2011. They also shared their predictions for up-and-coming bands who could make major breakthroughs in 2012.

Let’s start with…

Max’s Picks

Favorite Discoveries of 2011

Shield of Wings (pictured above): “If there’s one band I think has the potential to become one of my future favorites, it’s this one. I hope they have some new stuff for us soon, because Solarium was quite a promising debut EP and made this band my favorite discovery of the year.”

DesDemon: “So they’re not technically that new, but I only really discovered this band at this year’s Flight of the Valkyries Festival, and I was blown away, not only by the skilled musicianship and epic performance, but by Chelsea Knaack’s amazing voice! I see this band getting rather big in the future. At least I sincerely hope so.”

Noctura: “I decided to look up this band a few months after all of the hype, and I realized I definitely missed out on something special here. Yes, they sound almost exactly like We are the Fallen and early Evanescence, but the songs are still amazing and Mandy’s voice makes my ears melt. In a good way.”

Crysalys: “Probably one of the more original discoveries of the year, Crysalys melds the drama of opera with the heaviness of metal like no other. Their debut is great, if a little rusty, but with some more polish, this band’s sure to impress!”

What He’s Looking Forward To In 2012

Stolen Babies: “2006 saw the release of this band’s debut album, and we’ve been waiting ever since for a new one! What tracks we have so far (“Splatter” and “Grubbery”) sound promising, but I’m sorely missing some epic creepy carnival avant-garde metal.”

Diabulus in Musica: “Diabulus in Musica hit the female fronted metal world by storm with their debut, and I can only imagine their new album The Wanderer will be even better! Definitely one of the albums I’m most excited for next year.”

Diablo Swing Orchestra: “I can’t imagine what crazy, cooky, swingy, opera-infused ridiculousness this band will put out on their new album Pandora’s Piñata, but boy am I looking forward to it.”

The Murder of My Sweet: “I was very impressed with the band’s debut Divanity, and I am most definitely looking forward to more cinematic film-noir inspired metal from this band in the coming year!”

Robin’s Picks

Favorite Discovery of 2011

Shield of Wings: “A freak snowstorm in early January led me to root around on CD Baby for new music, in part to take my mind off the fact that my remaining food supply consisted of a pack of Ramen and some candy left over from Halloween.  About 20 albums into my aimless snuffling, I came across Solarium, a glittering gem of an EP by Chicago symphonic metal band, Shield of Wings.  I’ve played the EP a few hundred times, and STILL can’t get enough of it.  More please!!!”

What She’s Looking Forward To In 2012

Seduce The Heaven (pictured above): “I had the privilege of getting my grubby paws on Seduce The Heaven’s five-track promo album, which contains five of the ten tracks on their upcoming debut, Field of Dreams.  The combination of power, symphonic, melodic/death, and metalcore with clean female vocals and male growling made my ears do a happy dance.  Not too poppy, not too crunchy, not too growly … These Greek newcomers managed to strike just the right balance.  If the remaining five tracks are anywhere as promising as the five on the promo CD, Field of Dreams may well become a break-out album.”

Kobra and the Lotus: “My reaction to the debut album by Canadian metallers, Kobra and the Lotus, was decidedly lukewarm.  And then I saw the video for ”Welcome To My Funeral” flying around on Facebook.  Now THAT’s more like it!  The band seems to have abandoned their earlier theatricality for a cleaner sound that allows the vocalist’s massive pipes to work their magic without jarring distractions.  The band are in negotiations with record labels, and have not yet announced a release date.  Whenever it comes out, I’ll be first in line for Visionary.”

Seven Kingdoms: “The self-titled album by Florida power metallers, Seven Kingdoms, was high on my list of favorite albums from 2010, and I have equally high hopes for their upcoming album after hearing them perform a couple of new songs during the Pathfinder Metalfest.  They play straight-up power metal with galloping guitars and shin splint inducing double bass peddling, with a nod to the fantasy epics of George R.R. Martin.  I’ve had the opportunity to watch this band from their CD release gig to opening for Blind Guardian throughout North America to headlining a festival.  I can’t wait to see what comes next!”

Embassy of Silence: “After endless gloating by friends in Scandinavia, I was finally able to get a copy of Embassy of Silence’s debut, Euphorialight, which quickly made its way onto my best of 2010 list.  Distinctive vocals?  Check.  Thought-provoking lyrics?  Check.  Unexpected twists and turns?  Check.  This Finnish melodic rock/metal band had it all … uhm, except competent distribution and promotion.  2012 will hopefully signal a turning point, with the release of the band’s sophomore album.  Judging from the samples available on SoundCloud, listeners are in for a treat.”

Mimi’s Picks

Favorite Discoveries of 2011

Emilie Autumn: “I don’t actually remember when I discovered Emilie Autumn, but it was fairly recent, so I figured I’d give it a shot anyway, but it still may have been a 2010 thing. I’m not sure. Emilie Autumn is her own violinist, and her songs have very gothic themes—not in the suicidal way, but in the We’re-All-Mad-Here way. And I love it. She’s going on tour in 2012, and hopefully I’ll be able to catch the show in Chicago.”

Evenoire (pictured above): “So I was in my Italian class in January, looking for some music I could put in the background of a project. Who should I stumble upon but Evenoire? The first song I heard from them was Azzurrina, and I’ve never looked back.”

Schoolcraft: “We’ve all seen my post on Mary and the Black Lamb (or maybe we haven’t, but it can be found here), so now it’s time to talk briefly about Schoolcraft, Lindz Riot’s solo project. I’ll do a post later (spoiler alert!) about them and go more in-depth, I promise. If you think that Schoolcraft will be the same thing as MATBL, you are mistaken. The sound is very different but still equal in awesome. For now, you can find Schoolcraft at ReverbNation.”

What She’s Looking Forward To In 2012

Valora: “Valora are a rock band from California, set to release their debut album, I’ve Waited for You, in early April. What I love about this band is that they’re so creative. They’ve released a few songs to the public, accompanied with a graphic-novel-esque video and a short comic on their site illustrating a different love story through time. I love reading the comic and listening to the music; you can really see how they fit together.”

We Are the Fallen: “WATF have been off the radar for a while now after their big debut album back in May. Universal dropped them, and we haven’t heard much about them since. However, they plan to release two EPs next year, one with all new original songs, and another of ‘80’s rock covers. I really liked Tear the World Down, so I’m excited that they’re releasing new material.”

Sara’s Picks

Favorite Discoveries of 2011

Divine Ascension (pictured above): “Without a doubt, Divine Ascension’s As The Truth Appears  was my favorite debut album of 2011. This Australian band gives symphonic metal the injection of life it badly needs – mostly because they’re not your typical symphonic metal band. I love how the guitar dynamics drive their sound instead of the orchestra, and how Jennifer Borg is a theatrically (not operatic) trained singer. What DA does is exciting and majestic without sounding too similar to other bands out there. And supposedly they’re already working on new material. I can’t wait to hear what they’ve got in store for us next!”

Intemperia: “I don’t remember how I stumbled across the Venezuelan band Intemperia. But I’m glad I did. The debut CD The Mothman Prophecies has so much energy, variety, and creativity that it’s difficult not to enjoy it. I also had the opportunity to interview singer Juls Sosa and guitarist Carlos Robles last year. Not only are they both sweet and funny, their passion for their music was so strong that our conversation spiked my own enthusiasm for their music. Funny how things work like that sometimes!”

What She’s Looking Forward To In 2012

The Mariana Hollow: “I can’t say enough good things about TMH – so much so that people might be getting sick of it! Honestly, though, their next album Velvet Black Sky is going to turn heads and give this UK band the attention they deserve. Strong songwriting, memorable refrains, a striking balance of alternative and progressive styles, impassioned vocals courtesy of Rebecca Spinks, and some of the best guitarwork I’ve heard in a while… If that description of Velvet Black Sky catches your interest, I highly recommend checking it out when it’s released on February 13th! “

Seven Kingdoms: “Would this be a proper time to say how jealous I am that Robin’s gone to so many gigs for this Florida power metal band? Maybe not (oops – sorry!). But I will give her credit for introducing me to Seven Kingdoms’ music. I love how different their sound is compared to other female-fronted power metal bands: a volcanic guitar presence, Sabrina Valentine’s powerful voice, and dashes of death, progressive, thrash, and speed metal thrown in to make it even heavier. No symphonics and operatic voices to speak of here. From what I’ve heard from the band and read online, their upcoming third album will be more technical, more inspired by fantasy stories, and – as I predict – more kick-ass than the last one.”

Diabulus In Musica: “This Spanish symphonic metal band made a HUGE splash in the female-fronted metal scene when they released their debut album Secrets in 2010. They sound a lot like Epica because of the operatic female / extreme male vocal duality. But, DiM’s music is so well crafted that such comparisons don’t even matter. The band’s second album, The Wanderer, is due out via Napalm Records in early March.  DiM has also announced three guest performers for this album: Maite Itoiz and John Kelly of Elfenthal, and Mark Jansen of Epica! Something tells me The Wanderer will be something very special for fans.”

So, which bands were your favorite discoveries of 2011? Which albums are you looking forward to most in 2012? Let us know by commenting here or on our Facebook wall! And don’t forget to vote in our 1st Annual Readers Choice Awards on Facebook if you haven’t done so yet. Make sure you read our rules here before voting in the poll. Thank you!

We had an awesome turn-out for our tribute poll to Flight of the Valkyries V! Most of it was due to the top two vote-getters: Benedictum, and Cassandra Syndrome. Benedictum jumped to an early lead in December, but Cassandra Syndrome gradually caught up to take the lead. In the end, the difference was 202 votes – in Cassandra Syndrome’s favor. That’s why the operatic metallers from Maryland are our first Band of the Month for 2012!

Click here for Cassandra Syndrome’s Band of the Month page.

Just one vote shy of 4,000 were cast this month! Here is how the results shaped up:

1. Cassandra Syndrome – 1946 votes (48.66%)
2. Benedictum – 1,744 votes (43.61%)
3. Brave– 110 votes (2.75%)
4. Serpent Witch – 60 votes (1.5%)
5. Desdemon – 56 votes (1.4%)
6. Echoterra – 48 votes (1.2%)
7. Flames of Fury – 35 votes (0.88%)

Now, it’s time to announce the nominees for February 2012 Band of the Month. Here they are:

• Evenoire, a gothic folk metal band from Cremona, Italy. Evenoire’s full-length debut album is due out later this year and features guest appearances by German soprano singer Gaby Koss and Derdian keyboardist Marco “Garry” Garau.
• The Mariana Hollow, a progressive/alternative metal band from London, United Kingdom. The Mariana Hollow will release their second album, Velvet Black Sky, on February 13th and is in the midst of planning a headlining tour across the UK to promote the album.
• Modified, a hard rock trio from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Modified’s self-titled full-length debut album, which was released at the end of December, is now available on CD Baby.
• Opus Doria, a symphonic metal band from Aquitaine, France. Like with Modified, Opus Doria released its debut album Infraworld at the end of December.
• Voices of Destiny, a melodic/symphonic metal band from Germany. Voices of Destiny’s second album, Power Dive, will be released on January 27th in Europe via Massacre Records.

As always, visit our WordPress site and scroll down to find the poll on the right-hand sidebar. Vote once a day, every day through Tuesday, January 31st!

Which bands would you like to see featured in our next Band of the Month Poll? Let us know by sending an email to unleashthefuriesmetal@gmail.com.

Oh, by the way – Happy 2012 from Unleash The Furies!

No matter what you celebrate at this time of year, Unleash the Furies wishes you all the love, warmth, happiness,  delicious food, and rock and metal music that you could ask for. And while you make merry, be sure to do so safely and responsibly.

Also, a quick apology for our lack of articles recently. We’ve all been super busy with the upcoming holidays, work, school, and other things. So, we’ve accidentally let the blog slide a bit. We hope to catch up on things as soon as life slows down for us!

Season’s greatings,
Max, Robin, Mimi, Sara, Eric, Raquel, and Frozen Angel

Time to feature yet another gem from The Netherlands! Cardamon hails from Utrecht and sounds similar to our previous Check It Out band (and fellow countrymen/woman), Only Fate Remains. What makes Cardamon different from OFR is its balance of sounds: their songs contain metallic riffs, semi-progressive structures, acoustic passages, and enchanting melodies courtesy of Floortje Donia. The best word I can use to describe Cardamon’s music is “melancholy.” You can hear and sense that emotion in the lyrics, the vocals, and the moods created by the music. Think of Cardamon as a female-fronted version of Katatonia during their Last Fair Deal Gone Down days – or a mix of Katatonia, Autumn, The Gathering, and circa-1999 Anathema.

Cardamon has played a number of shows in their homeland over the past couple years. A number of those gigs were opening slots for Delain, Stream of Passion, Kingfisher Sky, and Autumn. So, this band has had a lot of great opportunity to get their name out there in Holland. Oh, and two trivia bits for you: Cardamon guitarist Koen Romeijn is the lead singer of the melodic death metal band Detonation. And, bassist Luuk van Gerven played the same instrument for After Forever until that band split up in 2009. Just goes to show that Cardamon’s members have a wide range of tastes in metal music!

Cardamon has two albums under their belt: The Primrose Path, released in 2007; and Sun As Never (pictured above), which came out last month. Sun As Never sees the band going in a heavier direction. As a result, the music has a stronger electric-guitar base and is generally more uptempo. The lyrics and prevailing moods, however, are still dark, somber, and introspective. Cardamon has actually released Sun As Never for free download only at their website. So if you haven’t heard of Cardamon before, this is a good opportunity to do so – without opening your wallet!

Out of both Cardamon albums, however, I prefer The Primrose Path a smidge more. I find something charming about that record’s delicate balance of electric and acoustic moments as well as Floortje’s clear, lilting harmonies. A great example of all of the elements that make up The Primrose Path is the song “Sleepless World.” The intro grabs your attention while building in intensity, and the song as a whole is full of those contrasts that make up Cardamon’s signature sound.

Cardamon are:

• Floortje Donia: Vocals
• Koem Romeijn: Guitars, keyboards, backing vocals
• Kevin Storm: Guitars
• Luuk van Gerven: Bass
• Michael van der Kolk: Drums

You can learn more about Cardamon by visiting their official website or their Myspace, Facebook, YouTube, and ReverbNation pages.

~ Sara