Sarah Jezebel Deva - A Sign of Sublime

Release Date: August 24, 2010
Label: Rising Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  Genesis
2.  A Sign of Sublime
3.  She Stands Like Stone
4.  The Devil's Opera
5.  They Called Her Lady Tyranny
6.  The Road to Nowhere
7.  Your Woeful Chair
8.  A Newborn Failure
9.  Daddy's Not Coming Home
10.  Bitch  (Merideth Brooks Cover-
       Bonus Track)

Total playing time:  42:05

August 8, 2010

Reviewer: Kesh

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*Comments:

Sara Jezebel Deva - If you don't know who she is, you more than likely know her voice. She is best known for working with Cradle of Filth, but she has also made guest appearances with many others in metal, including Mortiis, Graveworm and the Gathering.  Until now, we have only heard her in short, more as a background or complementary element to others, but nothing that stood on its own.

Now, I'm just going to come out and say it right up front: Sara Jezelbel Deva has been wasting her time working as supporting vocalist for other bands for far too long, and this solo album of hers is long overdue. I could tell this when I first sat down and began listening to her freshman release A Sign of Sublime. I was so into this album while I was listening to it, that I found myself not wanting it to end once it started getting into the final tracks of the release. It's that good.

Overall, the album is excellently executed. Ms. Deva's mark apparent on each and every track of the album; the one exception is the bonus track - the Merideth Brooks’ song "Bitch." Honestly, the album does fine without this extra track, which is flat and lacks the passion of the rest of A Sign of Sublime.

The rest of the disk is great, and I am finding myself thinking how much better Cradle of Filth would be if Sara Jezebel's vocals were featured more prominently, and Dani Filth’s were more in the background. Now, I realize people are going to try and take the above statement out of context, and infer that I am saying that A Sign of Sublime is Cradle of Filth sans Mr. Filth - my opinion is far from that. Tracks like "She Stands Like Stone," "The Road to Nowhere" and "Daddy's Not Coming Home," could easily being played on your local rock stations the world over.

Honestly, this album is refreshing, because it feels like Ms. Deva is being true to herself, and not trying to capitalize on her association with other projects she is or has been associated with in the past.

For those like myself who have always found it a pleasure to hear Sara Jezebel Deva's voice wherever they happen to pop up - you'll want to make the investment and get this solo debut (and hopefully it’s not her last) effort. It's everything you like about her vocal and stylistic efforts with very little to "Bitch" about.