Godyva
Alien Heart

April 2013
Released: 2013, Southern Brigade Records
Rating: 2.5/5
Reviewer: Metal-Rules.com UK Team

Italians Godyva have been around since 2000, but below the radar to many. ‘Alien Heart’ is their third release; with which they present gothic rock/metal with predominantly sub-operatic feminine vocals, occasionally accompanied by a clean male voice. Leaning more on the rock side of the rock-metal-ometer; there is no denying it is filled with powerful catchy songs, all which are an easy listen due to the use of synth/keyboards throughout, however nothing lingers in the ear. In places it is a little cheesy; in the same way Edenbridge can be on the edge of cringe-worthy; while the variety between individual songs draws you to continue listening.



Highlight track is not the title song but ‘Everything is Over’, which stands out for its RHCP funk bass and punctuation of near nu-metal male vocals, both of which is not often heard in female fronted gothic metal.



There is nothing new contained within ‘Alien Heart’. Due to a lack of bombastic tendencies, it is not for fans of symphonic gothic metal, who will be left with a sense of something lacking.

It will however appeal to fans of Eighties female fronted heavy metal, due to sounding, in parts, akin to a Lacuna Coil power ballad. Even more so if those listeners are fans of commercial and softer ‘gothic’ metal acts, such as Evanescence and later Within Temptation.



Review by Victoria Fenbane