This is great. Francesca Chiara fulfils all my wildest fantasies about female rawk singers as well, a hot blonde goth chick descended from a Venetian noble family singing “VAMPIRES, I want to live like Vampiiiires”, who could resist? Add some basil and a wee drop of balsamic vinegar and this album will feed every rock-opera craving you’ve ever had.

Of course a certain level of brain-switching-off needs to be done as the cheese factor is high throughout. Ballsy, bold & daring; grandiose, gutsy & high-flown; mythological, noble and valourous — there are few synonyms of ‘Epic’ that wouldn’t fit here. This is a gothic rock opera done on a huge scale, sometimes even more over-the-top than Meatloaf. Goth metal rock concept albums aren’t exactly flavour of the month these days though. Shame really.

But if ever Emo wanted a lesson in how to write tragic romance then the grand scale here, especially of Fading Roses (“it’s our last day together”), has none of the self-pitying introspection the kids wallow in, this is balls-out stadium screaming about Tragedy. Where emo-teens induldge in little boys crying about skinned knees and broken hearts, this is a full-grown rock diva singing about REAL PAIN. Still just as ridiculous, but in a much more pleasing fashion for those willing to take the trip.

In fact the whole stadium production and referencing influences such as Iron Maiden, Vangelis & Marilyn Manson almost requires the use of exageratted hyperbole about vagueries rather than analysing the wide vocal dexterity shown throughout; the lovely chugging basslines most evident on My Soul; it would seem petty to highlight the chorus hooks in The Chuaffeur and the beautiful rain soundscape of Dark City. Let’s leave it as a Meatloaf-rivalling rock epic.

I’m a fan, but maybe I am just a little embarrased about it so forgive me.
“Thank you God, Thank you for the darkness”