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UPON WINGS
Afterlife EP

Sword Of The Spirit (2013)
Rating: 5.5/10

Classically-trained vocalist Anne Autumn Erickson enters the hard music arena with Upon Wings’ debut EP, Afterlife. Featuring guitar work and production from Kevin Jardine (Slaves On Dope) and guest vocals and production from Brett Hestla (Creed / Dark New Day), the EP is a quick, but strong, introduction to the project that will certainly perk the ears of fans who enjoy Tarja Turunen’s solo work and early Lacuna Coil.

‘The Dream (I’m Only Happy When I’m Sleeping)’ is the highlight here. While it’s not exactly reinventing the wheel, Erickson’s operatic background vocals are thoroughly beautiful and completely haunting. It almost feels like an interlude but you get completely lost in it in the same way you do a good opera.

Meanwhile, the title track has a more contemporary bounce with a great groove and spiritually heavy lyrics. ‘Take Away’ has a performance feel to it. It’s easy to picture the American band leading an audience through the journey in a grand hall (for some reason I’m picturing the same gorgeous hall in Sarah Brightman’s 2008 outing Symphony: Live in Vienna).

‘You Are My Weapon’ is a stumbling block, getting the heaviest the EP gets musically but Erickson’s voice loses a step, just not quite synching up. It even grates on you a bit in the chorus.

Overall, this is a solid EP. I really dig the potential here, but I’m not entirely convinced yet. Having only four songs to offer, I feel like one misstep is reason to be cautious of a full-length. That said, if you are a diehard fan of the female-fronted progressive bands or the classical and opera inspired heavy bands that are so popular right now then you could do much worse than this EP.

Mark Fisher

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