Band:	Angtoria
Album:	God Has A Plan For Us All
Style:	Symphonic metal
Release date:	April 27, 2006
A review by:	Susan

01. The Awakening
02. I'm Calling
03. God Has A Plan For Us All
04. Suicide On My Mind
05. Deity Of Disgust
06. The Addiction
07. Six Feet Under's Not Deep Enough
08. Do You See Me Now
09. Original Sin
10. Hell Hath No Fury Like A Woman Scorned
11. Confide In Me [Kylie Minogue cover]
12. That's What The Wise Lady Said
13. A Child That Walks The Path Of A Man [limited edition bonus]

"A candidate for Best of 2006"

I am amazed by the amount of imagery this music conjures up. Rarely do I hear an album that is so visual and engaging. When I hear the music I see vivid colors; when the vocals start the powerful lyrics fill in those colors with clear action and scenery. I really am watching this music.

The album opens with a symphonic intro, but don't let that fool you. This is no ordinary, throw-away symphonic intro; this effectively introduces us to the bombastic and dark symphony which will accompany us on this journey. There is actually nothing "throw-away" here, Angtoria has considered every detail. After only a few tracks you can sense the distinct and unique Angtoria sound. Each song is special yet continues the musical themes of the album. While the song tempos are moderate the emotional pace seems fast, like a rush from a high. Even when they slow down for the incredible ballad "The Addiction," nothing is sacrificed.

I am impressed by all aspects of this album. The music is really bombastic: big, loud, aggressive, crunchy metal paired with the drama of a symphony orchestra. The music could stand alone but so could the vocals. Both are so strong. Sarah Jezebel Deva has really discovered a new voice for herself. Gone is the high soprano from Therion, this is a very unique voice she presents.

I mentioned above that the lyrics are powerful and I wasn't kidding. Each song is well laid-out and it's easy to connect with Sarah's emotion. The creepy title track "God Has a Plan for Us All" seems to be about child molestation in a religious household: "He crept into my room/ whispered my name took my innocence away/ God has a plan for us all/ I have been touched by the hand of God." Each song has a lyrical except worth including here but there are 13 songs and I don't have enough space! I'll mention the chorus to "Six Feet Under's Not Deep Enough" which conjures up some of the most vivid imagery: "I'll dance on your grave until my feet bleed/ Six feet under's where you'll rot/ We'll spit on your grave until your soul screams/ Six feet under's not deep enough."

This is truly symphonic metal. Unlike many light, pretty, soprano-fronted metal bands who are labeled as symphonic, Angtoria truly is. This is a very dark symphony, nothing light and fluffy about this band. While the songs will easily be stuck in your head they are not easy, catchy songs; they're memorable. I gave this album a 9.2 instead of 10 because I can nit-pick out several small flaws but none affect the overall picture of this strong album.

Favourite songs: I'm Calling, God Has A Plan For Us All, Suicide On My Mind, The Addiction, Six Feet Under's Not Deep Enough, Confide In Me