Upon Wings - Afterlife EP
We’ve featured Upon Wings before and thoroughly enjoyed what we heard, so when Anne dropped us a line letting us know about the new EP, Afterlife, we were looking forward to seeing what was going on. With a style described as rock crossed with metal crossed with operatic, this EP promises to showcase the style on offer, and usher in a new regime of opera orientated metal goodness.
Opening with Afterlife we’re immediately led into a dark and atmospheric world of haunting vocals, developing melodies and a sense of growth, immediately setting the tone for what is to follow from here on. Powerful guitars soon come into the mix fully, completing the picture and offering up a melodic and dark approach, the soft vocals contrasting against the heavy backing to form a sound which is gothic and dark, yet light and uplifting. The vocals from Anne here are quite simply sublime, continuing to keep that sense of clean melody running through things whilst the urgency of the backing music continues to push the track forwards, forming a sound which is going to sit you back, keep you listening and let you know that Upon Wings are here, and they’re sounding damned good to me.
Moving on to Take Away the progression of the EP continues, once again setting the scene with those awesome vocals, and pushing the power of the track forwards with the heavy backing rhythms. Powerful guitars once again add in the distortion, all backed up by heavy drums and rumbling bass rhythms. The mix formed is once again one which is upbeat and yet somehow calming, the sort of thing which will appeal to fans of all sorts of genres, simply because of the variety on offer. Upbeat, catchy and powerful, this track is a high point on the EP for sure, and a moment to make sure you check out for yourself when you get the chance.
Up next comes The Dream, another track which continues the soothing yet upbeat style of the EP and shows off the awesome vocals of Anne (see below for a full write up on the track from when we first checked it out). It’s only then left for You Are My Weapon to close the record, finishing on a raw and more urgent track which leaves the EP on one hell of a high. Powerful guitars work with a hammering rhythm section to back up the mix, offering up another tasted of that soothing vocal and hard music combination. The closing notes here finish the record on a high for sure, paving the way for what is going to follow and showing just how able these guys really are musically.
There are bound to be those who compare an EP like this to the likes of Evanesence, but to be honest, I think Upon Wings have more of a hook than they ever did. This isn’t corporate or mass produced rock, this is music which has come from the heart, music which is going to connect with those who hear it, and music that you’re going to come back to time and time again just to make sure you didn’t miss anything. Definitely an EP to make sure you check out if you get a chance.
To find out more about Upon Wings, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Check out their video for The Dream below.
Opening with Afterlife we’re immediately led into a dark and atmospheric world of haunting vocals, developing melodies and a sense of growth, immediately setting the tone for what is to follow from here on. Powerful guitars soon come into the mix fully, completing the picture and offering up a melodic and dark approach, the soft vocals contrasting against the heavy backing to form a sound which is gothic and dark, yet light and uplifting. The vocals from Anne here are quite simply sublime, continuing to keep that sense of clean melody running through things whilst the urgency of the backing music continues to push the track forwards, forming a sound which is going to sit you back, keep you listening and let you know that Upon Wings are here, and they’re sounding damned good to me.
Moving on to Take Away the progression of the EP continues, once again setting the scene with those awesome vocals, and pushing the power of the track forwards with the heavy backing rhythms. Powerful guitars once again add in the distortion, all backed up by heavy drums and rumbling bass rhythms. The mix formed is once again one which is upbeat and yet somehow calming, the sort of thing which will appeal to fans of all sorts of genres, simply because of the variety on offer. Upbeat, catchy and powerful, this track is a high point on the EP for sure, and a moment to make sure you check out for yourself when you get the chance.
Up next comes The Dream, another track which continues the soothing yet upbeat style of the EP and shows off the awesome vocals of Anne (see below for a full write up on the track from when we first checked it out). It’s only then left for You Are My Weapon to close the record, finishing on a raw and more urgent track which leaves the EP on one hell of a high. Powerful guitars work with a hammering rhythm section to back up the mix, offering up another tasted of that soothing vocal and hard music combination. The closing notes here finish the record on a high for sure, paving the way for what is going to follow and showing just how able these guys really are musically.
There are bound to be those who compare an EP like this to the likes of Evanesence, but to be honest, I think Upon Wings have more of a hook than they ever did. This isn’t corporate or mass produced rock, this is music which has come from the heart, music which is going to connect with those who hear it, and music that you’re going to come back to time and time again just to make sure you didn’t miss anything. Definitely an EP to make sure you check out if you get a chance.
To find out more about Upon Wings, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Check out their video for The Dream below.
Upon Wings
When word comes to us of a band we need to check out we’re always keen, so when Anne got in touch about Upon Wings and the track The Dream, I was looking forward to hearing what was on offer.
Opening with soft and melodic female vocals, the track gets off to a soothing start, almost verging on the realms of gothic style opera style vocals but with more depth, yet somehow more simplicity. Growing as the track progresses, the vocals seem to echo around the speakers, forming into a sound which is both haunting and accessible at the same time, almost like a dark but happy dream. Enveloping you in a soothing sound of vocals throughout, this is simple when you break it down, simply consisting of different levels of vocals yet somehow forming a sound which is deeper, more powerful, and the sort of thing which sticks in your mind for days afterwards. It’s only as the track comes to a close that you suddenly realise there was no drums or instruments, instead just vocals in different levels, showing the true power of the voice to convey a message.
I didn’t know what to expect from Upon Wings when I first looked into things but hearing it, the name represents the music which is on offer. Forming a sound which lifts and carries you to a new place, the soothing elements of this track are the main thing which needs to be focused on, somehow using a vocal line to do all of the work needed and resulting in a track which has left me happy, content, and wanting more.
To find out more about Upon Wings, check out the Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with soft and melodic female vocals, the track gets off to a soothing start, almost verging on the realms of gothic style opera style vocals but with more depth, yet somehow more simplicity. Growing as the track progresses, the vocals seem to echo around the speakers, forming into a sound which is both haunting and accessible at the same time, almost like a dark but happy dream. Enveloping you in a soothing sound of vocals throughout, this is simple when you break it down, simply consisting of different levels of vocals yet somehow forming a sound which is deeper, more powerful, and the sort of thing which sticks in your mind for days afterwards. It’s only as the track comes to a close that you suddenly realise there was no drums or instruments, instead just vocals in different levels, showing the true power of the voice to convey a message.
I didn’t know what to expect from Upon Wings when I first looked into things but hearing it, the name represents the music which is on offer. Forming a sound which lifts and carries you to a new place, the soothing elements of this track are the main thing which needs to be focused on, somehow using a vocal line to do all of the work needed and resulting in a track which has left me happy, content, and wanting more.
To find out more about Upon Wings, check out the Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
