The whole Netherlands/Austrian area is a hotbed of Goth metal, sticking to the simple formula of hot operatic chick A + lush production + synths +competent faceless musicians + a mix of peppy bouncy songs and slower somber ballads = band X, that has produced bands like After Forever, Epica, Edenbridge, Visions of Atlantis, Elis and Autumn.

Surprisingly comprised of a few ex-members of heavier Dutch acts like Massive Assault, Cantara, Seizure, God Dethroned and Absorbed, Autumn is your typical, sugary, female fronted Goth metal affair, nothing more nothing less. Vocalist Nienke de Jong is your typical sloe eyed, cleavage baring front woman with a decent semi operatic voice while her band mates deliver predictable if competent riffs that are the MSG of Goth metal; enjoyable enough but not really filling.

The 11 songs are exactly what you’d expect from any similar band riding on the Lacuna Coil bandwagon; a few wispy ballads (“Angel of Desire”, “Communication on Opium”, “Forget To Remember (Sunday Mornings)”) litter the mid paced up tempo numbers like opener “Satellites”, Hammond flocked duo of “Closest Friends Conspire” and “Shadowmancer”, energetic “My New Time”, catchy “Twisted and Turned” and sultry closer “Whats Done is Done”. It’s all utterly by the numbers and bereft of any outstanding qualities to make Autumn stand out from their peers, but its well done enough for fans of the genre to check it out.

[Visit the band's website]

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