Band:	Storm Of Sorrows
Album:	Count The Faceless
Style:	Melodic death metal
Release date:	September 01, 2003
A review by:	Dream Taster

01. Feel The Pain
02. Count The Faceless
03. Scars Of A Wasted Life
04. No Relief
05. Hellucination Spiral
06. Black Season
07. Terror Dynamix
08. And When The Rain Begins To Fall
09. Where No Stars Shine

Founded by two friends in October 1998, Storm Of Sorrows is a Melodic Death Metal band hailing from the northern shores of Germany [Norderstedt]. The project was launched by Tjark Eisfeld [guitars, keyboards] and Fabian Schmidt [vocals]. The lineup was quickly filled with Jochen H. Wiemer [bass], Jan Timm [guitar] and Christoph Loerke [drums] and Storm Of Sorrows was truly born. The first demo came in December 2000 [self-titled], and a second one in April 2001 [entitled No Relief]. Meanwhile, the band played gigs in the local area and they started to spread their name in the underground.

In 2002, Storm Of Sorrows released their first EP Pale Silhouette and they got very positive reviews in the press and started to play more gigs. Finally, in February 2003, they began the recording of their first full-length album Count The Faceless. The result is a 9 songs CD of excellent Melodic Death Metal.
At the first notes [and screams] of the opener 'Feel The Pain', I must say that I had a negative thought but it quickly faded away [in fact, it lasted less than 5 seconds]. The origin of it was that I was sure to face once again one of these Children Of Bodom clones. But I was so wrong! Shame on me and I apologize for that. Maybe it was only due to the opening scream, even if Fabian Schmidt's voice is closer to Mikael Stanne's [Dark Tranquillity]. Anyway, 'Feel The Pain' rocks and blows away all my negative thoughts in no time. However, the best was still to come...

'Count The Faceless' is clearly one of the best compositions on the album and if you want something to figure out what kind of music these guys play... Well I would say Dark Tranquillity period The Gallery with nowadays' Soilwork influences. That's really interesting music in fact! The following song, 'Scars of a Wasted Life', shows the good level of both guitar players while underlining the drummer's strong skills. With 'Count The Faceless' and 'Scars of a Wasted Life', you get the essence of Storm Of Sorrows: melodic, fast, catchy and technically very good.

'No Relief' starts as an acoustic ballad and turns to be one another highlight of the album. Listening to that song, you would never believe that Storm Of Sorrows is an unsigned band... this world has no logic, I tell you! Let me tell you something else, if I was working for a label, these guys would be my first pick.
Both 'Hellucination Spiral' and 'Black Season' are very different from the previous songs and honestly that's how any album should be! Female vocals on 'Black Season' can't change the fact that this track is the darkest number on Count The Faceless.

The instrumental track hasn't been forgotten with 'Terror Dynamix'. And once again guitar lines and solos are amazing. Another great moment. Also to be noticed, a strange cover of 'And When The Rain Begins To Fall' [a famous very old pop tune...] and with the female vocals, it could be part of Sinergy's set of funny covers. Honestly, that's not my favorite but it's so funny that you ought to like it! Finally the closing track 'Where No Stars Shine' is the less interesting track on the album in spite of the wonderful guitar lines once again.

In a nutshell, you can't expect something like Count The Faceless from an unsigned band and the truth is that I'm really surprised that labels are so blind [or deaf, as you want...]! 'No Relief', 'Count The Faceless' and 'Terror Dynamix' are true killers, so if you clever, you'll check there website and support Storm Of Sorrows. You can get this album for 10 euros and they deserve to be supported! Good luck Storm Of Sorrows.