ex libris, medea

Now to tell you the truth, I’ve never been the biggest fan of symphonic soprano vocals. I always thought that all the “getting goosebumps from her voice” thing is too much of a mainstream idea. This vocal style, although very impressive always seemed to me a bit too flat and cold and not very vivid in expression. However, Dianne is a lot more than a soprano singer. Although that is her main focus, she can execute pretty much any vocal style the world has ever seen (apart from death growls) and alternate between them seamlessly to express every emotion precisely as the song demands it. She is loaded with professionalism and attention to detail and every single accent and tone in every silable she releases is pure gold! You think getting goosebumps is a big deal? For her it’s routine! She’s gonna tear you apart! She can be gentle and sweet (verse in My Dream I Dream), powerful and determined (chorus of Medea), energizing and uplifting (“On the Ocean’s Command), merciless and vicious (Murderess in Me), filled with sorrow and regret (A Mother’s Lament) and in the end, boiling with rage (Daughter of Corinth and From Birth to Bloodshed). Here she plays the role of Medea and her vocal acting impersonates the character so genuinely that you forget it’s just a play. It feels real and powerful and it penetrates your every fibre! I’ve seen bands that will pile up layer over layer of choirs and orchestras in order to gain an epic feel but Ex Libris can grasp the same grandeur simply through their songwriting style, flawless production and Dianne’s fantastic vocal performance. I’ve been known to overreact about certain things but I do not think I’m overreacting when I say that she is my new favorite singer! Also, her expression in the last two songs (Daughter of Corinth and From Birth to Bloodshed) really could teach most death metal vocalists a thing or two about rage, depth and power. She has the voice that this music requires and deserves and more. If you would have told me at any time that an album telling a failed love story, with soprano vocals would become one of my favorite albums of all time, I would have laughed in your face. But this has and then some.