The Flame Within

Stream Of Passion was initially the brainchild of Ayreon mastermind Arjen Lucassen. He was so blown away by Marcela Bovio's vocal performance on Ayreon's Human Equation album that he decided to build a new female-fronted gothic metal band to showcase her amazing voice. The debut album Embrace The Storm was brilliant and quickly established Stream Of Passion as one of the premier gothic metal bands in a genre that features close competition from other heavyweights like Epica, Within Temptation and to some extent, Nightwish and Evanescence. After Arjen Lucassen and 2 other band members decided to bow out of Stream Of Passion, many thought that the band was finished. However, after recruiting new members, the remaining core of the original band decided to see if they could make a go at it and got together to write, arrange and produce their all-important sophomore effort The Flame Within. With a decidedly heavier edge than the debut, as well as less of an operatic and "proggy feel", Stream Of Passion has managed to survive, despite the exodus of three original members including the nucleus and central visionary behind the band, by producing a solid follow-up to Embrace The Storm.

Lots of chugging and heavy riffs accompanied by swirling and orchestral keyboard sounds are a staple of any female fronted gothic metal band and Stream Of Passion is really no exception. The de-tuned riffing greets the listener right away with the album opener The Art Of Loss. The angelic and very powerful voice of Marcela Bovio really sets this band way above and beyond most others even if this track as well as others like the truly amazing In The End and Run Away bring a definite Evanescence vibe with the multi-layered vocals and catchy choruses and melodies. In The End for me is the true showcase for Marcela's voice with a track that literally soars with its dreamy gothic feel and amazing chorus. Several tracks are pretty stereotypical gothic metal with Now Or Never, My Leader, Let Me In and A Part Of You really bringing nothing new to the genre with their standard mid-tempo chugging heavy style. Where Stream Of Passion really excels is when they make the best use of the amazing vocal range and strong vibrato of Marcela's voice. Tracks like When You Hurt Me The Most, Games We Play, Burn My Pain and Street Spirit combine the best elements of piano/guitar driven melancholic gothic metal with powerful riff driven material that all benefit from the passion and strong emotion that Marcela Bovio infuses into the music of Stream Of Passion.

Overall, A Flame Within may be missing some of the haunting passion of Embrace The Storm and does venture a little more into Evanescence style gothic "pop metal" than some would care for, yet it still reaffirms Stream Of Passion as a definite force to be reckoned with. Definitely heavier at times than the debut, the guitars take on a more prominent role with their de-tuned heaviness. It's difficult to review and properly critique any female fronted gothic metal band as obvious Epica, Nightwish, Within Temptation and Evanescence comparisons are hard to avoid. Most bands in this genre really do have a very similar sound. However, very few can boast as having one of the best voices in the entire genre. Stream Of Passion pretty much has a lock on that one.