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EXIT EDEN
Rhapsodies In Black
Napalm Records

When I first came across the Rhapsodies In Black album, I was excited. While I’ve never been a huge fan of female-fronted groups, the idea of an all-female supergroup in 2017 struck my fancy. Amanda Sommerfield, Anna Brunner, Marina La Torraca, and Clémentine Delauney form the group, coming from groups such as AVANTASIA, PHANTOM ELITE, and VISIONS OF ATLANTIS. Rhapsodies In Black is the ladies' first album together, and unless they’re going to come up with original music, I do hope it will be their last.

While I would very much love to go through each song on this album and tell you, the reader, how much I enjoyed every one of them, I just can’t do that. It is much easier for me to highlight the few that I did appreciate, with a few other comments here and there. While the first song, a cover of DEPECHE MODE’s “Question Of Time” lays the groundwork for the rest of the album with its heavy beats, it seems right away that these women are reaching just a bit too far with what they are trying to accomplish. Their voices all meld well together and I appreciate that, but that is about the extent of my desire to continue listening. However, when it comes to their take on RHIANNA’s “Unfaithful”, it is an entirely different story. I couldn’t get enough of EXIT EDEN’s version. I’m not a RHIANNA fan by any stretch of the imagination, but this take on it was perfect. It falls right in line with music I might listen to on a regular basis. I got lost in the song and enjoyed every element. I found myself listening to it repeatedly before moving along to the next.

Skipping over “Incomplete”, “Impossible”, and “Frozen”, which do absolutely nothing for me but put me to sleep, we come to “Heaven” which is a cover I didn’t know I needed, for a song I never listen to, but know. It could easily be used in a movie with a darker romantic element. Music needs to make you feel something, and this song does. EXIT EDEN’s cover of KATY PERRY’s “Firework” seemed to be a weird choice to cover, but was understandable from a pop culture “how can we make ourselves relevant” standpoint. However, it is still just as generic as KEY PERRY’s original. It doesn’t stand out as being unique in any way, shape, or form, and it doesn’t inspire me. A shitty cover of a shitty song is still just a shitty cover of a shitty song, no matter who is singing it. 0/10, did NOT enjoy.

Ignoring the snooze-fest that is “Skyfall”, we come to their cover of “Total Eclipse”. Yes, that song. I was not looking forward to it but they surprised me. I really enjoyed it. I loved the added element of the male backing vocals. It was a much-needed break from all women, all the time. I can honestly say that this was one of the few songs on the album that I didn’t feel the need to force myself to sit through for the sake of this review. I’d consider it a cover that BONNIE TYLER could be proud of. LADY GAGA’s “Paparazzi” was up next, and much like “Unfaithful”, I had no problem getting behind it, or listening to it on repeat. Gaga is such a strong singer and this rendition lends a great hand to it. I was dancing around in my seat listening.

Closing out with “Fade To Grey” I was once again wholly unimpressed. I’ll be honest, I spent more time scrolling through Facebook on my phone than paying attention to whatever this was harassing my eardrums. I’m not even going to pretend I wasn’t.

Over all, to quote Simon Cowell, “It’s a no from me.” These women have great voices, but they should be used for originals, where they can have parts written to showcase their voices and play to each woman’s individual abilities. They shouldn’t be trying to fit themselves into someone else’s music.

2.0 Out OF 5.0

Pick up your copy of Rhapsodies In Black in the KNAC.COM More Store right HERE.