Nightwish, Within Temptation, Epica, and Within the Black! These names are almost synonymous with symphonic metal. You simply cannot separate them. Those bands were shaped by the great energy and influence of the genre, and they, themselves, have made great contributions to it as well. Some of them even reshaped the course of the genre. Koburg, the Winchester, UK-based artist is surely on the same exact track. With her latest EP release, This Game Called Love, Koburg is making a statement in the world of symphonic metal.
The song is mainly about the inner struggle of someone who wants to be in love, yet so afraid of the vulnerable side of it. Off-course this is not the first love song you hear and probably not the last. But love is really a complicated theme. There are way too many emotions and experiences that go under the umbrella of love whether they are good or bad; and truth be told, no one can neither live without it nor actually explain it, and this is probably what makes it an immortal topic or theme: everyone has his own experience and definition of love.
The artist has released an EP featuring two versions of the same song. The first version is the “transcendent version” which is more of a mellow symphonic-like version of the song. The cello lines add great depth and warmth to this release. Perfectly suited to this “transcendent version;” and the outro features the sound of a beating heart, which perfectly conveys the idea of love: finding someone that makes your heart beat. The second version is “the twisted version,” or in other words the symphonic metal version. Including both versions to this EP was quite a smart move as it really shows the artist’s versatility. It also highlights this idea that such emotion can really be expressed differently. It’s the crazy emotional rollercoaster of love: sometimes it’s too deep and intense; others it’s sweet, mellow, and kind.
Koburg has released an EP that affirms the fact that she has the voice, the emotional depth, and the artistry that can make her one of the top symphonic metal female artists. Especially with the fact that she is a one-woman band! So, if you’re someone who is looking for some new good symphonic metal music, now you know where to look!
