Unsun

Clinic For Dolls

Armoury Records 2010

I am so tempted to write off this album as plastic pop metal garbage.  And then the innocent and angelic voice of Aya's vocals dance into the mix and shine with all their heavily accented naiveté and sincerity which quickly dashes any notion to write this album off.  Thick metal-ish riffs churn out a base foundation for Aya's sweet and captivating voice on The Lost Way.  The guitarwork doesn't do much to grab the listener and the keyboard work can border on irritating depending on what effect they are using.  The title-track jumps out with a galloping pacing with chugging guitars and snapping drums.  The crackling guitar and whispered vocals sizzle with modern gothic attitude at the 2:39 mark.  A More traditional goth feel is imbued within the folds of Time as the meaty riffs and delicate synth smash up against epic vocal lines from Aya.  But I am smacked by abhorrent metal-core riffage towards the song's 2:49 mark.  Mockers contains even more of this metal-core stop/start chugging riff.  But the song is partially redeemed by the insanely catchy chorus.  Not Enough though is kind of forgettable, not really reaching any vocal or musical heights achieved by earlier material on the album.  I feel the same way about some of the later tracks on the album like I Ceased and A Single Touch.  But the the earlier track, The Last Tear is a solemn and heartfelt duet between Aya and a lush synth passage.  Even after multiple listens I am still torn between dismissing this band as uninteresting and boring, but then again, it can be so catchy and sweet.  The guitar riffs are devoid of anything truly memorable, so for me the full focus on this band is Aya's vocals.