Leah: The Glory And The Fallen | Celts, Folk, and Metal
(2024 – Ex Cathedra Records)
It’s true that the combination of medieval themes, warriors, and Folk/Celtic music is nothing new, but once again, we have this combination in a project that attempts to put a new spin on the genre.
Metal and epic/folk music with Celtic influences is something that has always yielded good results, in general. The intertwining of stories, legends, and myths suits Heavy Metal well, and has resulted in a lot of experimentation in this regard, with mixed results but generally well received by most audiences. So Leah’s work is not an invention, nor does it claim to be.
“The Glory And The Fallen” is the sixth album by Leah Martin, better known simply as Leah, and in this new work it is clear that the idea is to continue along the same musical and conceptual lines as her previous works, remaining faithful to her style and establishing herself as another pillar of her extensive career. There are no references to anything different or new, but neither does it fall into any unbridgeable gaps.
Even so, it seems that a lot has been invested in this work, as everything, from the songs themselves to the aesthetics and the powerful sound, gives the impression that this time the idea is to go even further.
When I listen to “The Glory And The Fallen,” I am left with that feeling and the déjà vu that I have been here before, but well, a little awareness and self-conviction help me realize that Leah’s music goes beyond that, even if the proposed formula is not something new. I would even go so far as to say that there is actually a combination of various factors that prevent Leah’s music from being irrelevant.
The album contains 12 tracks, the first of which is “Archangel,” which opens the album. In this track, we find Leah, owner of an angelic voice, in a style that revolves around what could be the old Within Temptation and the best of Nightwish, with a marked influence of the Celtic epic that permeates Leah’s overall proposal. “No More Fear,” the next track, revolves around a ballad and a kind of anthem, with certain reminiscences of more traditional Metal in its foundations, which are quite trite, by the way.
Something much closer to the epic Celtic influence can be found in “Unshakable,” with a slight nod to more modern riffs and a slight pop filter, as in most of the album. Along the same lines, we can include “Speak To Me,” a kind of melody that would fit perfectly as the soundtrack to the movie “The Lord Of The Rings.”
I really liked the vibe in “Dream Voyage,” one of the highlights of the album. It has a medieval feel from a metal perspective, which I even feel is close to Blackmore’s Night but with a heavy sound that rules out any kind of comparison, even if it’s as far-fetched as the one we just made. On the other hand, “Revive” seems to go for a more pop ballad style, but keeping the heavy foundations that always support the sound of Leah and her band in its structure.
“Little Stars” is a portentous slow song, but “Wings Of Time” is something else. Its epic and folk feel make it really entertaining, but it is in “Sleeping Giant” where Leah and company show us their best side. A mid-tempo base, Mark Jansen’s guttural vocals, and a melody that takes us through one of the best passages on the album. It is definitely worth checking out.
It sounds like an old epic chant, but “Before This War Is Over” goes far beyond that, venturing into progressive metal and even flirting a little with power metal. It seems that Leah saved the best of this album for last, because “Victory” emerges as a kind of epic, metallic ballad, and add “Glow,” the last track, to that list.
Overall, “The Glory And The Fallen” stands out as one of the best albums Leah Martin has achieved in her already extensive career. Beyond the fact that, as we mentioned, the proposed formula is nothing new, the truth is that the balance is positive from the point of view of the complex and intricate compositions of each song on this album, resulting in something very pleasing to the ear. There is nothing strange here, just a handful of 12 songs that seem simple but have a striking structure inside that I recommend paying attention to.
One thing that helps a lot is the sound. The recording and mixing done for “The Glory And The Fallen” is precise, high quality, and, beyond the sum of a heavy base with light orchestration, never gets lost in a ball of sound. Then there is Leah Martin’s voice, excellently crafted in conjunction with the instrumentation. In that sense, the sound is one of the most positive aspects of this album. And note that there is a version of this album that is purely instrumental, and another that is ambient, which allows you to appreciate the music from a different angle.
The graphic design is not far behind. With a great cover, which includes Leah herself alongside a warrior and a fallen soldier, the entire inner sleeve follows the same design and art logic, which, of course, follows the musical logic of the genre that Leah cultivates, that is, epic, with medieval and folk reminiscences. The booklet, in addition to allegorical images for each of the songs, as expected, includes the lyrics for each song, which are consistent with the vibe of the album. Leah Martin declares herself a Christian, but her compositions do not result in a typical Christian message; rather, the lyrics go in another direction. What we have here are songs of positive and constructive inspiration, distancing Leah from any cliché that might be perceived as such.
I almost forgot. This work also has vinyl editions and deluxe versions that come with three CDs: the album we are listening to, an instrumental version, and another with an ambient feel, so there are several options to enjoy this great album in different physical formats.
Beyond the obvious influences that one can notice in Leah Martin’s style, it is difficult to pigeonhole her into a particular genre. Perhaps Symphonic Metal would be the closest thing to what Leah proposes, and even then, we would fall short in the definition. In any case, the best thing is for you to get closer to “The Glory And The Fallen” for yourselves, an album that, beyond being something different, has kept me attentive, entertained, and busy listening.
As always, we leave you with a video clip, in this case of the song “Before This War Is Over,” from this album, and of course, Leah’s social media links, so you can follow her and stay up to date with her latest news…
https://www.facebook.com/LEAHthemusic
https://www.instagram.com/leahthemusic
