Descent : This Burning Effigy

The new album by This Burning Effigy called descent more than lives up to the gothic reputation that precedes the band. Most that visit this site will of course be interested in Julianne's contribution so I will concentrate on that. Julianne features on the tracks in bold. Track Listing : the parody, sylvan, exquisite, the eternal procession, an untold release, transfiguration (extract 1) : seclusion, descent, exiled, pure complex (version), nothing more sacred than apathy, bastardised, transfiguration (extract 3) : figures

Exquisite
Julianne takes the lead vocals on this track with her trade mark ethereal voice accompanying in the background. This song has Julianne's influence stamped all over it and its no surprise to find her credited as having written some of the track along with Egan and Carey. It would not have been out of place on the B side of the first independent Eve's singles. Credit goes to the three of them, of course, this is a great track and would be worth purchasing on its own.

Julianne on Exquisite ... Ger and Steve mentioned a third 'song' to me.... It was a piece of music really, energetic, interesting.... They asked if I fancied doing some kind of collaboration on it with them. I equate the word 'collaboration' with spontaneity, which frightens me into a state of petrification ordinarily.... But, on hearing the track, I felt excited at the possibility of throwing in a few ideas. My first idea was a bit too radical as I suggested we immediately fire up some kind of heavy backbeat. Ger, bless him, went paler than he usually is, and that's *pale*. So, I ended up doing another fairly 'featured' vocal.

Descent
Julianne provides backing vocals to this track which can only be described as a pained, dark song. The two vocals work well together here to create a beautiful song.

Pure Complex (version)
I don't know if the band would be offended, flattered or indifferent but they do have allot of Mission in there music, and no more so than on the beginning of this track. Pure Complex seems a little disjointed and I don't find that the two came together so well as the previous tracks. Ger's deep, and I mean DEEP voice is sometimes a little too desolate (for want of a better word) for Julianne's lighter backing vocals here.

Remaining Tracks
The rest of the album holds together well and is well worth a purchase on its own merits .The Parody opens with a haunting string section moving into a steady beat and a strong opening track that I immediately like. An untold release opens like something from "War of the Worlds" and evolves into a gothic guitar beat. The guitaring on Transfiguration 1 reminds me allot of Marty Wilson-Pipers solo material ... excellent.

Julianne Earlier This Year : I am fussy.. and would not be doing it if I didn't like the music, even though they are friends. It is dark, but also very beautiful. The guitars are especially gorgeous to my mind."

Did it feel nice to be back in the studio again even though it was on behalf of someone else?

"Yes it did. I got back an hour or so ago and called my Mum for a chat and at the end of the conversation, told her I'd been in the studio and what I was doing etc. She said something along the lines of 'I could tell something good had been happening. I could just hear it in your voice'. What a *love* she is.

The stuff went very well and I'm back there again tomorrow. Between you and I, the music is gorgeous, but, it's a bit hard singing lyrics I've not written myself, although I have written the odd line in one of the songs. But yes, it's *great* to be back in the studio again. Singing LOUDLY!

"I was in the studio for Saturday and Sunday. I've sung on three songs in total. One is a 'main' vocal really, although lyrically, I'm only responsible for the odd phrase. Another, well, it's extremely dark and I've done a *lot* of backing vocals on it ! These two, I was prepared for, and, had done my homework, having roughly worked out what I wanted to do on them.
Time was of the essence as we were due to be chucked out of the studio at 11pm ! It was an adrenaline fuelled race against time. Mark, the engineer, was messing about with effects and making the guitars go all 'gated', which I thought sounded slightly 80's in a Duran Duran way, but, dare not mention it lest Ger go paler still. I love DD, so kept my mouth shut and simply felt good about it! We just about got it all done and dusted by 11pm. It has yet to be mixed, as have all the tracks, but I am particularly interested in how that one works out.

It was a good experience to be singing in the studio again. It's a great opportunity to sing out from the bottom of my lungs alongside the 'ethereal' side of me....."

For more information visit the Grave News site.

Julianne sings live with This Burning Effigy Julianne sang live at The Garage London, along with This Burning Effigy. She was a guest at the Grave News 5th year anniversary bash on Saturday 4th of December at the Garage in London. The line up was:- This Burning Effigy / Julianne Regan Spear Of Destiny Dead Souls Rising + 2 others A review from deja : All in all a top gig, and it somewhat had the feel of goths gig of about 5 years ago...not many goggles to be seen. The highlight of the night was definatly This Burning Effigy though. Probably their best ever gig, and their sound has improved so much on getting a real drummer (infact two of them for some songs). The atmosphere was excellent, and Ger is a great performer. So much so that there was even a mini mosh pit. For the last three songs Queen Eve came on and did her bit. Slightly shaky start, but Exquisite and Pure complex were just, well, exquisite. I should say the gig wasn't just top because of Julianne Reagan...but she did make it more of a special event. My only slight gripe was that there was no encore despite us all shouting for along time...