Southern Echoes
The Medea Project
In March 2003, Brett (Bass/Vocals) and Dean (Guitars) got together for a series of jam sessions. It wasn't the first time the two had played together having already attempted several musical combinations amongst their mutual friends. The newly formed partnership thrashed out a couple songs and then started the search for additional members to complete the line-up. Matt (Drums) and Greg (Guitars) where recruited into the fold completing the first full line-up.
Dean then migrated to Ireland but the two maintained contact and THE MEDEA PROJECT even managed to release a single for a charity album. On Dean's return, the band went through various member changes and released yet another single for a charity album. They then went onto hiatus and Brett immigrated to England in 2011. However, the band did not die a complete death. It was pulled from the ashes when Brett was joined by Pauline (drums) and started reworking some of the original songs as well as writing new material. Excited by what was spawning, they went on the inevitable hunt for a bassist and Bradley (Bob) was conscripted to complete the current three-piece line-up. "Southern Echoes" contains five tracks.
"Prelude" opens the album. It's two-and-a-half minute, mood setting opening song. The mood is quite sad, through some clean guitar notes and depressing, almost whispered vocals. The guitar notes pick up in sonority, along with some light drum strikes. "Babylon" begins with some guitar feedback and a slow, Doomy feeling. The vocals are clean at first, then turn to shouts. The song continues with that lumbering sound throughout. "Fear" begins with slow bass guitar notes and hard cymbal strikes. It settles into a slow groove with the addition of fuzzy guitars. It begins a slow build from there.
"The Desert Song" begins with lethargic guitar notes, with bass guitar in foot. The vocals are gut-wrenching at times, spoken at other times. It picks up into the psychedelic realm after the half-way mark, with spooky sounds emitted from the guitars. "Kneel to the Cross" is a three-minute closing track. It opens with some spoken word/singing, along with clean guitars. That Southern genre feeling is very much alive here, with acoustical guitars and that signature "snake rattle" every now and again.
Overall, this wasn't a bad album. It just lacked a bit in diversity, even for the style. Doom Metal is typically about the sadder and more lonely part of existence, and THE MEDEA PROJECT do a pretty good job of conveying these feelings on "Southern Echoes," but they need to find a way to distance themselves from the thousands of bands in the genre. A little more of their personality in their music would go a long way.
6 / 10
Had Potential
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production
"Southern Echoes" Track-listing:
1. Prelude
2. Babylon
3. Fear
4. The Desert Song
5. Kneel to the Cross
The Medea Project Lineup:
Brett Minnie - Guitars & Vocals
Pauline Silver - Drums & Percussion
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