Visions of Atlantis – Maria Magdalena

site | label | buy

On one side of the equation, Maria Magdalena marks the point where Visions of Atlantis finally feel stable after all the line up changes the band suffered between Trinity and Delta. Though with two member changes since Delta, and some health concerns for singer Mario Plank that have caused tour cancellations, one has to wonder how long this stability will last this time. Still, in the meantime we have Maria Magdalena, your atypical Napalm Records EP with a bunch of odds and sods for the more hardcore fan. These EPs are often hit and miss, though admittedly Maria Magdelena is of much better quality than other entries. The lead and title track is a cover of German pop star Sandra‘s chart-topping smash (that is, it topped charts everywhere in Europe except the UK, where it barely charted at all), which sounds faithful to the original song’s melody but is otherwise very much in Visions of Atlantis’ big and brash symphonic power metal style. Frankly, it doesn’t sound much like a cover and the band really make it their own – what sort of pop act names their song Maria Magdelana anyway? There’s a set of four new songs that do on occasion sound a bit like out-takes, but they are otherwise pretty good b-side fodder and whilst not quite on par with the material from Delta, certainly make for a satisfying EP in their own right. Finally, there is a re-recording of Last Shut of Your Eyes (originally on Cast Away), which seems a bit unnecessary but is otherwise a good version. Like all these EPs, it isn’t an essential item but certainly worth checking out, especially for anyone who really enjoyed Delta. Hopefully this EP means that a second album with Maxi Nil on lead female vocals isn’t that far away.

Written by James Donovan
More: 2011, EPs, Female-fronted, Quick.Play Reviews, Symphonic, Visions of Atlantis