Wow, this is going to impress quite a lot of people. From a genre like gothic metal that's apparently gone dry for some time, we've finally got an interesting and original album. If you thought the golden age of goth metal was done... for the most part you were right, but Scarlet Visions really good. And most of all: not cheesy. Yes, actually mature gothic metal.
The good part about Gaias Pendulum is its quite wide genre mix (when compared to other gothic metal, have that in mind). The mid-period Tiamat and Paradise Lost influences are obvious, but it also has elements from Type O Negative, Cradle of Filth (in the weird vocals, but they fit) and pretty much all the early gothic metal, as well as similar parts to those of Japanese original anime and movie soundtrack composers.
The eerie and oneiric atmosphere is quite unique to Gaias Pendulum, created mostly by the keyboards and the impressive (sometimes psychotic) guitar style switches. Everything's pretty much 100% emotion-oriented, so it's not really heavy or "metal," but it's positive that Gaias Pendulum doesn't really care about it.
Ah, probably one of the few worthwhile modern gothic metal albums. Really good and refreshing. (8.2/10)
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