Our August 2011 Band of the Month Is…

Dimlight

Our latest poll was a battle from start to finish. Omega Lithium and Dimlight duked it out during the first half of July. And then during the second half of the month, Die So Fluid fans started voting like crazy and challenged Dimlight for the top spot.  In the end, however, the Greek symphonic metallers reigned supreme. And so Dimlight is Unleash the Furies’ Band of the Month for August 2011!

Click here to visit of Band of the Month page for Dimlight.

Once again, thank you to everyone who made their voice heard in this poll! Over 2,200 votes were cast. Here are the overall results for the August 2011 Band of the Month Poll:

1. Dimlight: 875 votes (38.75%)
2. Die So Fluid: 827 votes (36.63%)
3. Omega Lithium: 384 votes (17.01%)
4. Kerion: 157 votes (6.95%)
5. Eyes Set to Kill: 15 votes (0.66%)

Now, we have a special twist to our September 2011 Band of the Month Poll. Since our staff is still on a Dame-Nation high, our latest poll has a Dame-Nation 2011 theme! This year’s entire line-up is on the ballot. So, to refresh your memory, here are all 9 bands in alphabetical order:

• A Sound of Thunder, a heavy metal band from Washington, DC.
• Angelical Tears, a gothic symphonic metal band from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
• Avariel, a symphonic metal band from Boston, Massachusetts.
• DeadMansWake, a melodic hard rock / metal band from Chicago, Illinois.
  
• Losing Scarlet, a heavy metal / hard rock band from Chicago, Illinois.
• Mary and the Black Lamb, a gothic electro-rock band from Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.
• Shield of Wings, a symphonic metal band from Chicago, Illinois.
• Solarsphere, a melodic modern hard rock band from Chicago, Illinois.
• The Unvoiced, a melodic metal band from Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

To cast your vote, visit our WordPress site and scroll down to find the poll on the right-hand sidebar. Voting closes on Wednesday, August 31st, and you can vote once a day!

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!

~ Sara

Check It Out: Era for a Moment

Along with Avariel, Era for a Moment was one of two great local bands I discovered last year. Well… OK, I’d actually listened to a few of Era for a Moment’s songs on Myspace a while back, but never followed up on that. Then in October, I heard about a free outdoor show the band was headlining in my hometown. A free gig? Five minutes from home? Of course I wasn’t going to pass that up! And it was a great decision in the end. The weather was beautiful, and most importantly Era for a Moment put on an energetic, crowd-pleasing set. I walked away with two CDs, ringing in my ears, and a desire to see the band in concert again.

Era for a Moment is a five-piece hard rock band from the Boston area. Their music is driven by gritty guitars and catchy melodies, with neither element eclipsing the other. So on one hand, you get plenty of riffs and guitar solos. On the other, you have no trouble hearing their lead singer, Shelby Carcio. She shows great control of her voice on each song, and her backing vocals have an ethereal hint.  Overall, this is the kind of band you’d expect to hear on the radio – the good kind of radio-friendly music.

So far, Era for a Moment has self-released two albums: Realize (2007) and When Earth Meets Sky (2009). Both albums are very good, but I personally like When Earth Meets Sky more. The songs on that CD are stronger, and the final overall sound is much clearer. The band also experiments more (and succeeds) with ballads and a cover of the ‘80s pop hit “Somebody’s Watching Me.” If I had to pick favorite songs from both albums, I’d say “Calling You” and “The Fire” from Realize; and “Revel” (see YouTube clip below), “What If,” and “Last Lesson” from When Earth Meets Sky.

The band also has a cool promo video for the song “The Fire.”  I can’t find it on YouTube, so click here to watch the video on Myspace.

Currently, Era for a Moment is writing new material. But they are playing shows in the Boston / New England area in between sessions. Visit Era for a Moment on Myspace, Facebook, and ReverbNation to find gig dates, listen to songs, and learn more about the band.

You can buy Era for a Moment’s albums on iTunes, CD Baby, and Amazon.

~ Sara

Check It Out: Avariel

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