French band MOONSTONE was formed back in 1998, as a more or less direct continuation of covers band Slacker. “Moonstone” is their debut album, and was released back in 2000 through Wagram Music initially, with a presumably later or second edition issued through the then fledgling Brennus label. Or possibly vice versa.
What we’re dealing with here is a metal band with a powerful female lead vocalist, and one that doesn’t explore any of the gothic or symphonic metal directions we commonly associate with female fronted metal bands today. Instead this is a band that looks back in time with roots, origins and inspirations in NWOBHM as well as bands like Judas Priest, pairing those possible influences off with a fair bit of AOR and hair metal. More or less.
Bouncy, light toned and dampened riffs galloping away in some sort of power pop metal manner is a trademark feature of the sound and style explored, with fiery but slightly subdued guitar soloing runs in the instrumental midsection, an emphasis on singalong choruses and with a few instances of the obligatory power ballad to boot.
Lead vocalist Paula has a powerful voice, but not of the kind that can carry a song by itself nor elevate it into a higher plane, and I suspect the other band members suits such a description fairly well too. Passable musicians performing passable tunes, with a passable result. Apart from a couple of dodgy moments, like the overly cliched ballad Time to Fly and the stomping, flawed anthem Give Us Power, this disc is actually a fairly pleasant experience. Not music that will engage on any deeper level presumably, but easygoing unobtrusive melodic metal it is, one easy to tap your foot to and listen to with half an ear and a production that should be perfect car music for fans of pop metal.
Pop metal is a handy reference for my conclusion about this disc as well, as that is the most apt description of the ten compositions at hand. Or rather nine of them, as there is one short mood piece present as well. As far as recommendations go, I suspect those who enjoyed bands like Phantom Blue in the early 1990’s might be a suitable key audience for this pleasant, somewhat under-produced disc.
My rating: 60/100
