 Style: Gothique
Year of birth: 1997
Country: Portugal
Views: 4016. Updated: 16 October, 2005 by Project Moderators
Biography of BandPortuguese Darkwave/Ethereal/Gothic Metal band Aenima has faced an uphill climb. Soon after the release of their excellent debut,
"Revolutions", their label -- and any promotional assistance therefrom -- died. Despite this, they were able to sell out their first
pressing. Appearances at Germany's M'era Luna festival, and on Cleopatra's Unquiet Grave vol. 3 compilation, helped them to establish a
growing following around the world. That following won't be disappointed by their sophomore effort, "Sentient". If "Revolutions" was a
promising beginning, "Sentient" shows a band which has found its voice and triumphed over adversity.
Aenima's music takes the standard Gothic forms and gives them a Celto-Iberian flair. The melancholy acoustic guitar on "Song for a
Moonlit Mermaid" would be right at home in a fado hall; so would the multilayered a capella vocalise on "Dusk" and the swooping trills on
"Rites of Passage." This is not surprising. Portugal has a long tradition of hauntingly beautiful music... and of synthesis. It is a land
where Moorish tiles emblazon Catholic churches, where North African rhythms liven Celtic melodies. In joining the Cocteau Twins with Fado,
Aenima has created something which draws from world traditions and in doing so becomes quintessentially Portuguese.
Rune's production abilities stood out on their first CD: listening to "Sentient", it is clear he has not been resting on his laurels. The
recording is crystal clear, no mean feat for a band as dynamically diverse as this. The smart, stylish bass lines by Paulo are crisp and
clean on Gothic rockers like "Lilith" and solid but unobtrusive on ethereal flights of fancy like "The Light." The electric guitar work
from Rune and Nor is as melodic as the acoustic, particularly on "Shelter for a Lesser God" and "The Soil Stained Black."
The most notable improvement of all is in Carmen's singing. On "Revolutions" Carmen was a rock-solid and competent singer. Here she's
gone from Very Good to Absolutely Astonishing. "Lilith" has low notes worthy of Amy Ray or Alison Moyet, combined with trills that would
make Harriet Wheeler of The Sundays envious. This is by far the best vocal work I've heard all year; Carmen combines the precision of
opera with the passion of folk, with incandescent results.
Some say that Gothic Rock is dying, that Industrial has mutated into Psytrance and Gothic into Synthpop. Bands like Aenima offer hope of
a resurrection; here's hoping they can find the audience they deserve. This is one of the best releases this year, and will definitely be
one of the highlights for Middle Pillar Presents. |
Members of Aenima
Current Members:
Paulo. Role: Bass, Keyboards
Hugo. Role: Drums, Percussion
Nor. Role: Guitars, Didgeridoo
Carmen (Founder). In Band at: 1997 - . Role: Vocals
Rune (Founder). In Band at: 1997 - . Role: Guitars |
DiscographyPromo: Skies (1997) Tracklist.
CD: Revolutions (1999) Studio: Symbiose Records. Tracklist.
EP: Never Fragile (2002) Studio: Equilibrium Music. Tracklist.
CD: Sentient (2003) Studio: Middle Pillar Presents. Tracklist.
EP: Split (2004) Studio: Tenser Produtions. Tracklist. |
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