Stream of Passion - The Flame Within

June 19, 2009

Reviewer: Peter

For those that don’t know Stream of Passion, the band was once one of Arjen Lucassen’s projects, alongside Ayreon and Star One.  Now, the band aims to stand on its own, complete with a new record deal and new album.  The result is The Flame Within, and much like its Dutch counterparts, the album displays a good showing from the female vocals, provided by Marcela Bovio.  However, it just doesn’t do enough to truly grab the listener’s attention.

Even before listening to The Flame Within, the Gothic metal label that Stream of Passion wears automatically invokes comparisons to fellow Dutch bands such as After Forever, Within Temptation, and early Anneke-era The Gathering.  As for the album, while Stream of Passion does show its influences, they are not trying to sound like their counterparts.  Bovio’s vocals are unique in the sense that they don’t have the high range that some of the best female vocalists can reach.  However, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t work well with what is there.  Her vocals are above average and are helped by strong songwriting and music that adds a good amount of atmosphere to the mix.  On the occasions that she has to go high, such as on “When You Hurt Me the Most,” she doesn’t blow away the listener, but she also doesn’t embarrass herself, either.  For the most part, the vocals are at a level that most people, whether they listen to female-fronted Gothic Metal or not, can listen to without having to reach for the volume button.  Music provides atmosphere, but it doesn’t truly stand out in any other way.  Sure, there is promise on the opening track “The Art of Loss,” but it never truly advances beyond a certain point.  There are ballads on the album, with “Run Away” and “When You Hurt Me the Most” being the prime examples.  The former is pretty standard when it comes to ballads while the latter shows glimpses of what the band can achieve.  Amongst the tracks on the album is a Radiohead cover of “Street Spirit.”

The potential for Stream of Passion is there, as evidenced on The Flame Within. However, they seem to be content with going through some of the ground that other Dutch female fronted bands have covered already.  There isn’t anything really wrong with the album; it is just that there isn’t enough in the way of originality.  Clearly, Stream of Passion was just trying to escape from Arjen Lucassen’s shadow on this album.  For the next album, the next step would be to add more to its sound while maintaining some of the things that worked on The Flame Within.

Release Date: May 29th, 2009
Label: Napalm Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  The Art of Loss
2.  In the End
3.  Now or Never
4.  When You Hurt Me the Most
5.  Run Away
6.  Games We Play
7.  This Endless Night
8.  My Leader
9.  Burn My Pain
10.  Let Me In
11.  Street Spirit
12.  A Part of You
13.  All I Know

Total playing time: 54:40

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