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By JEFF MAKI
My New Time is the third album from Dutch female-fronted rock act Autumn. Their debut album, When Lust Evokes The Curse (2002), helped get the band exposure throughout the Netherlands and internationally, as they played numerous festivals and opened for another Dutch band, Within Temptation. Their second release, At Summer's End, continued on the same path of success, but more recently, founding member and bass player Meindert Sterk departed the band. But Autumn has emerged with a lasting, memorable album due to the amazing vocal performance of Nienke de Jong.
Striving to break the mold of the goth-rock sound, Nienke de Jong's vocals sound remarkably similar to former 10,000 Maniacs singer Natalie Merchant. She sings in a lower octave, and this style, backed by keyboard/piano and groove-oriented guitars, help to create a surreal sound. This album has just as much in common with classic rock as it does goth. “Satellites” and “Closest Friends Conspire” start the album off strong, their catchy choruses and lyrics borderline radio-friendly. More than a few times, I pictured 10,000 Maniacs' Unplugged performance in my head. During some of the quieter moments, there is a strong Enya vibe. But don't worry, because all in all, Autumn is a rock band, which is never more evident than on “Angel of Desire,” whose intertwined guitars and synths bring older Lacuna Coil or The Gathering to mind. The title track and the ultra-cool titled “Shadowmancer” show off clever lyrics and have Autumn rocking out at their peak.
There's nothing entirely new or groundbreaking here. However, for Metal Blade Records, this is something new. The label known for earsplitting bands like Six Feet Under and God Dethroned hasn't ever released anything of this nature to my memory. Hopefully, this just isn't a label jumping on a bandwagon, but one that recognizes the true talent of Nienke de Jong, a captivating vocalist who could become a popular artist with Autumn and for years after. It's worth grabbing the album for her alone.
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