Spring Autumn - Spring Autumn (2006) (7/10)

SPRING AUTUMN is a Beijing-based Heavy Metal band with progressive tendencies and Chinese Folk influences. The band is especially known thanks to its American born guitar player Kaiser Kuo who has already been involved in the Chinese pioneer Heavy Metal institution TANG DYNASTY. The band though includes other members that play in important Chinese metal bands. Let’s cite guitar player Kou Zhengyu who is also involved in one of China’s most important Thrash Metal band called SUFFOCATED. Drummer Diao Lei is involved in the other Chinese Thrash Metal legend OVERLOAD. These big names for insiders of the Chinese metal scene sound rather promising. Let’s take a look on what is the first and until now only self-titled full length release by SPRING AUTUMN. 

I must admit that I was rather disappointed by the opener “A New Day”. It’s actually a quite solid Heavy Metal track but I expected something more exotic and more technical. I would say this is the least outstanding or unique track on the release even though it’s not the worst one. It might be a save way to open a record this way but in my opinion it rather harms the final result and the exchangeable track should have only been some sort of a bonus track.

The second song “Murder Room” though fulfills my expectations. Mysterious atmospheres, calm and melodic parts with great vocal lines and more dominant folk instruments make this song more interesting even though it has a more progressive touch. The balance between gripping riffs, chaotic solos and menacing tones on one side and almost too catchy and sweet vocal lines and melodies on the other gives this track a certain charm.

From then on, the band delivers what it promises. Heavy Metal fans might find this album a little bit fluffy as there are many calm and catchy moments. This is more interesting for people who like Chinese folklore, poetic lyrics and a few progressive experiments in well thought out doses.

I happen to find a few tracks too soft like the endless and somewhat silly sing along passages in the two epics “Born of the Storm” and “The Last Page” that also have a few instrumental lengths. Shorter songs like the diversified and very folk driven “Legend” and “The Huntsman” but also the heavier mid tempo banger “The Subcelestial” work better in my humble opinion and have a joyful and exotic tone without losing their sense for good riffs and emotional guitar solos.

Even though there is neither a truly bad nor an absolutely outstanding track on here, the record has its hits and misses. Ultimately, it’s a mostly entertaining and especially technically stunning release that I would only recommend to fans and experts of the Chinese metal scene. Anybody who is new to that scene should rather go for bands like TANG DYNASTY, BLACK PANTHER, OVERLOAD, VOODOO KUNGFU, THE LAST SUCCESSOR, SCREAMING SAVIOR and TERMINAL LOST. There are plenty of other intriguing bands to discover first from this fascinating Metal developing country.

(Online May 7, 2013)