FEEDING THE WOLVES

It has been a long time since I last heard anything from Kingfisher Sky, in fact it was all the way back in 2010 and the time of their second album, 'Skin of the Earth', and now they are back with their fifth. Formed in 2005 by drummer Ivar de Graaf (ex-Within Temptation, who on this release also provides Irish bouzouki, mandolin, acoustic guitars, keys, fretless bass), and singer Judith Rijnveld, only guitarist Edo van der Kolk is still involved from the original line-up, which now includes Nick Verschoor (bass, acoustic guitar), Erik van Ittersum (keyboards), and Maaike Peterse (violon, cello). There are also some additional guests, including Troy Donockley (Nightwish) on flute and Uilleann pipes, and Edward Reekers (Kayak, Ayreon) on vocals.

De Graaf left Within Temptation as he wanted to play music which was more challenging, and did so just as the band started to gain international success, and with his wife Judith they created a band which allows her classical training to shine as they move through styles such as crossover and symphonic with some folk tendencies and only rarely into area which could be thought of as heavy, which one may expect given the background. The title is interesting as it is taken originally from an old Cherokee legend, "There are two wolves, and they are always fighting. One is darkness and despair, the other light and hope. Which one wins? The one you feed." It has long been my desire for this to form the basis of my next tattoo, on my forearm, as it is a story I really relate to.

Unfortunately, for some reason the album misses the mark, as while there is no doubting the ability of all those involved it has been polished so much that it misses the mark and feels almost as if the band are playing it safe as opposed to pushing the envelope. It is not a bad album, but it just doesn't feel quite right, as if it has been sanitised. The guitars are good, but not rough enough, the drums often feel basic, the vocals don't contain enough emotion, and then it can get frustrating as there are times when it all comes together and really works which makes the listener feel they are wrong about the whole thing, and then it drifts again. I don't know much about the recording process, but I wonder if they had an external producer or if they did it themselves, as if that is the case then I could understand it. As it is, this is a nice album which hits loads of modern progressive styles but is not as essential as it might have been.

While this may appeal to those who want music with an amazing lead singer but less bombastic and in your face like Nightwish or Within Temptation may find this of interest, but to me it is just too sanitised with not enough passion or drive.