Naio Ssaion - Out loud

Artist - Naio Ssaion

Album - Out loud

Released - November 25, 2005

Reviewed By - Siddique Humayun

Naio Ssaion formed in 2003 and Out loud is the band's second album. With female vocals and amazing arrangement of Electric Violens in the songs, Naio Ssaion proves to be very original, creative and a talented band. Barbara Jedovnicky provides vocals while Rok Kolar shows his expertise on the Electric Violen, the band features nice riffs and great drumming by guitarits, Tine Cas and Luka Verdnik and drummer Mitja Melansek. The bass is provided by Lenart Jerabek. Though most of it is over-shadowed by the extremely talented violenist, Rok Kolar and the Amy Lee sort of vocals of Barbara Jedovnicky.

Out loud features 13 songs in total with a 2 minute instrumental, "Bow Link in E Minor" which shows Rok Kolar at his best. I came across the band when I heard them cover, Antonio Vivaldi's famous, The Four Seasons. No wonder they have a taste for classical music. The first song of the album is "Static" which pretty much sounds like an Evanescence song minus the Violen. Which gives the song great new heights. The best part about Naio Ssaion I think is their use of an Electric Violen which sounds, to say the least, unique.

"The Mirror" is the second song on the album, which starts of with brilliant arrangement of music and soon the vocals come in - which as usual are one of the major part of the band. Slighty after half the song, it features one of the most beautiful Violen solos on this album. Next in line is "Miss You" which has beautiful lyrics and vocals that are pure ecstasy. Naio Ssaion deals with rather personal issues in their lyrics and at times sound a bit too much "Evanescence" which gets a bit annoying at times.

"Bow Link In E Minor" this is where the band shines, musically. Impressive arrangement of violens with terrific guitaring and nice drumming. "N.ss" follows, and is one of the bands relatively famous tracks.

Out loud features some weak songs - such as, "Shut-up" and "Blah-Blah", which would've been better if they didn't make on the album, after all, 13-songs on one album is a bit too much anyway. On the other hand, the later half of the album gives the band a more of its own sound. And as soon as you reach the final song, "Out of the Great Book of Fairy Tales" you find yourself gripped to the band.

Over-all a very nice album, highly recommended.

Rating - 3.5/5

Tracklisting -

1. Static

2. The Mirror

3. Teen

4. Miss You

5. Bow Link In E Minor

6. N.ss

7. Shut Up

8. Blah-Blah

9. Blind Date

10. Can't You hear

11. At Ease

12. Yours Faithfully

13. Out Of the Great Book of Fairytales