Stream of Passion – The Flame Within

Releasedate: 29-05-2009; Label: Napalm Records
By: Sabine van Gameren

After releasing their debut album “Embrace the Storm” in 2005, the band gained the attention with their unique sound. The band started out as a project from Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon). After some touring the and the following up CD “The Flame Within” the band has some line up changes. The band is still led by the voice and violin of Marcela Bovio who was born in Mexico. Stream of Passions former line-up consisted of people from different countries and from parts of the world. The background of the different musicians led to the unique sound of the band.

With the new line up they recorded : “The Flame Within” and because this time the band members lived much closer they could meet up and discuss their work face to face and head the direction they all wanted to take. The voice of Marcela Bovio is leaving a big mark on the sound of the music. The compositions fits with her melodic vocal lines. She can really sing beautiful lines, but when the music gets more power the voice stays a bit behind. It does get sweet and high, what a lot of female fronted gothic bands do. And although the music does create delicate moments and the more powerful parts when the double bass is present, I miss that little extra power in the voice. The tracks that does have a bit more power are: “Games We Play” and “Street Spirit” a cover from Radiohead.

According to the band “Stream of Passion”delivers the entire spectrum of human emotions, at times dreamy and melancholic, at others uninhibited and forward pressing. In this way, heavy riffs merge with romantic undertones in majestic unity. I think a lot of fans from Delain and Epica will like this band. I have seen the band live, and right there they captured me a lot more. For me the CD is a bit dull, it has really beautiful tracks with very nice sweet and maybe even romantic piano ballads but I miss the spirit that I have seen on stage in their tracks. Or maybe they are a bit too polished.

Tracklist: 01 The Art of Loss 02 In the End 03 Now Or Never 04 When You Hurt Me the Most 05 Run Away 06 Games We Play 07 This Endless Night 08 My Leader 09 Burn My Pain 10 Let Me In 11 Street Spirit 12 A Part of You 13 All I Know

Links:
Stream of Passion MySpace
Stream of Passion Official