Wakefull Nights – Tomorrow World

Wakefull Nights
Tomorrow World
Label: Self-release (WNS Studios Germany)
Out: August 17^th, 2024
Playing time: 01:26:42

The German Symphonic Metal band Wakefull Nights was founded in Worms in 2019 by guitarist Schredder, soprano Disa and singer Annett. And as is often the case, they initially covered well-known Symphonic Metal bands such as Nightwish, Within Temptation, Battle Beast and Beyond the Black. But the aim was to write their own songs. The first single “Wakeful Nights” was released in June 2021. And then it happened, as it often does. Some members left the band. So that only a trio remained. Disa and Schredder founded their own recording studio and label. The debut album “Tomorrow World” was released under this label in August.

The title track “Tomorrow World” opens the overlong album. And is also overlong itself (07:32 minutes). Disa and Schredder start with a duet. Disa’s vocals are soprano, but she delivers them cleanly. I’ve often heard it differently. I don’t like the riffs as much. Very distorted and not powerful enough for my taste. The underlying keyboard carpets are omnipresent. The press release doesn’t mention who plays them. If you take a closer look at the video for the song, you might assume that the guitarist is also responsible for the keys. After a fast start, a somewhat calmer middle section follows, in which the drums set some accents. Wakefull Nights also go at quite a fast pace on “Nine Gates To Hell”. Once again you can hear the distorted riffs and the keys. Disa and Schredder sing a duet. The band named the next song after themselves. “Wakeful Nights” starts with synth sounds. Another good vocal duet. This time more mid-tempo. The vocal melody is very catchy. “Alice In Wonderland” is a rather quiet song with a calm guitar solo. A contemplative ballad. It then becomes more powerful in the second half. Even “Kissing The Devil” is a rather quiet song. A lot of orchestral bombast can be heard on “Children Of The Night”. I would have expected a fast song under the title “Running From The Dark”. But this one is more of a ballad. Even if the guitars roast in places. And “Frozen In The Darkness” is just as contemplative. “Under The Glass Moon” starts off contemplatively before the tempo picks up again later on. Unfortunately, the guitars sound very weird, even with good headphones. “When The Last Dragons Fly” then moves between ballad and mid-tempo rocker. “Lightbringer” offers hardly any variety. After a quiet start, the tempo picks up later on. It’s not until the final song “Unstoppable” that the speed picks up again.

The best thing on “Tomorrow World” are the vocals. Disa McFinnlay is particularly convincing with her clear soprano. Vocal partner Schredder also does a good job. The vocal melodies are also successful. What I don’t like so much is the instrumentation. The guitar riffs are too distorted and not really powerful. The bass is barely audible and the drums sound flat for large parts. The keyboards push themselves too much into the foreground and offer too little variety. The album itself has a few lengths. Less might have been more. Wakefull Nights still have a lot of room for improvement.

Wakefull Nights – Tomorrow World: https://youtu.be/1sGW7zzPWbo?si=BuxC2Hg4uIwXsn-e

Lineup:

Disa McFinnlay aka Claudia Tuschick – Vocals (soprano)
Schredder aka Volker Georg Tuschick – Guitar, Vocals
Session musician – Bass
Attila – Drums

Track list:

• Tomorrow World
• Nine Gates To Hell
• Wakeful Nights
• Alice In Wonderland
• Kissing The Devil
• Children Of The Night
• Running From The Dark
• Frozen In The Darkness
• Under The Glass Moon
• When The Last Dragons Fly
• Lightbringer
• Unstoppable