Mena Brinno - Icy Muse
Dark Balance

file under gothic metal

Jolijn: US outfit Mena Brinno proves that gothic metal is not just a European thing. Singer Katy Decker already had much experience singing in different operas, and in the beginning of 2006 she and Marius Kozlowsky got together and founded Mena Brinno. In 2006 the band released their first demo, called ‘Moon Fever’. Apparently the success they had was big enough to take this project to the next level. The debut album ‘Icy Muse’ is the result of a year of hard work. ‘Icy Muse’ is produced by Tom Morris of Morrisound, known for working with artists like the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Iced Earth. So far this all looks very promising

The entire album has a solid sound, in which Katy’s voice leads the music. The complicated guitar riffs that the band brags about are a bit harder to find. When listening more carefully, the exclusive riffs and solos pop up in the full music. The trick of Mena Brinno seems to be the use of keyboards, adding various Celtic and Oriental samples. I find this album to be quite easy listening, and it is mixed and mastered quite well. Several layers are recognisable in each track and add an extra dimension to the dark atmosphere of ‘Icy Muse’. If you already liked the Oriental sounds of bands like Epica and Xandria, or you really do enjoy the intense sounds of Sirenia, you will probably enjoy Mena Brinno as well. The fact that Katy is a great singer, and keeps up with her colleagues easily, can only be seen as a positive thing.

Rating: 88/100 (details)

http://www.menabrinno.com