RELEASED MAY 25TH 2009
BY ONCE BITTEN MUSIC & CARGO RECORDS
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HANGING DOLL
OFFICIAL REASON AND MADNESS ALBUM TEE
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Influences
Opeth Tool A Perfect Circle Slayer Metallica Pantera Dimmu Borgir Type O Negative Megadeth Anthrax Cathederal Chimaira Tristania Ozzy Osbourne Slayer Guns N Roses Drowning Pool Aerosmith Cradle Of Filth Lacuna Coil Nightwish
Sounds Like
“These Guys certainly have been overlooked judging by this intense and note perfect EP. Hanging Doll hail from Birmingham, UK and have produced some of the finest romantic- metal symphonies they could muster. Ethereal singer Sally Holliday has a voice that would give Amy Lee or Christina Scabbia a run for their foreign currency providing some of the most haunting gothic movie soundscapes and certainly lining themselves up as a epic band. Unsigned they are but I certainly don’t think this will be the case for long. ‘Forlorn‘ is an operatic grandiose tune that will have every gothic hearted fiend sucking from its bloody heart. All The songs have been moulded into mini masterpieces and it shouldn’t be long before the invade the UK and warm the blackest heart.“
DEVOLUTION MAGAZINE
“Excellent 3 track EP from one of Birmingham’s best kept secrets. This really is orchestral gothic metal at its very finest and I cant believe I didn’t come across this band sooner. The standard of musicianship on this EP is Second to none and the silky creamy vocals of Sally Holliday Literally do leave you in a dream like state. Well written , well Played , well Produced and very well put together by this very talented band. Remember the name, Hanging Doll are destined for big things”
INSOMNIA MAGAZINE
"One can't help but make comparisons to Within Temptation and Lacuna Coil When you first listen to this three track E.P from Birminghams Hanging Doll.
What is impressive though is that this is thier first release and shows a polish and maturity you would not expect to find. 'Sweet Retribution is a powerfull start to the E.P. Melodic female vocals and some angry male vocals mingle with metal guitars, while manageing to be 'gothy' enough not to alienate those with an aversionto heavier music. The next track is the more goth-friendly 'Forlorn'. This is a dreamy and romantic slower track with well played piano parts and a slightly ethereal vocal. 'Iniquity' wraps up this CD with a mixture of melodic string sounds and heavy sweeping guitars. This is one the best produced demos that i've heard. a band that look and sound great, these guys are not going to remain underground for long. I can see a time when there could even be legions of teenagers in Hanging Doll hoodies hanging around in local malls, although im not to sure if thats a good thing or not."
UNSCENE MAGAZINE
"Birmingham may be best known for bringing us grindcore and Ozzy Osbourne, but Hanging Doll are leaving a separate set of footprints, spreading a trail of gothic romance behind them as they do. Featuring the ethereal vocals of Sally Holliday, this classical metal act is rapidly becoming known in their local area for their beguiling live performance. After putting out an acclaimed three track E.P, Hanging Doll are currently working on a full length album with producer Greg Chandler (Gutworm, Conquest of Steel), expected to be released early 2008."
BLOODSTOCK WEBSITE
"The Dames of Darkness, gathered together some of the best female frontedGothic Metal Bands in the United Kingdom including, Seasons End, Abigails Mercy, Crimson Tears, Celticia, and Apparition, However it was Hanging Doll who stole the show, creating a real buzz amongst the crowd and the music industry people in attendance.Hanging Doll, now expanded to a five peice are sounding and looking better than ever, delivering a set of finely crafted songs. Thier music finely staddles the Metal, Orchestral and Gothic genres to create a sound that flows effortlessly from raging Metal to haunting Gothic. The orchestration and arrangements Hanging Doll employ gives the songs texture and dynamics that enhance the overall aurall pleasure. Above all, it has the ability to engage, and tonight was no exception.Playing well within thier ability the high-points of thier set included, "Sweet Retribution" and the soaring "Forlorn". Hanging Doll gave a stunning performance and look like a band worthy of playing some of the greatest stages around the world.This event should have been better attended and with a tighter running order The Dames Of Darkness would have been a roaring success, as it was it still was an enjoyable event that delighted fans of Goth tinged Metal."
Zak @ Ryans Gig Guide
"I have known about West Midlands based Hanging Doll for a while now, and The Dames of Darkness Festival gave me an opportunity not only to catch the band live (they was awesome on that night too), but to pick up a cd of theirs. 'What Lies In Truth' is the three track EP which found it's way into my grubby paws that night. And it seems I may have taken the last copy from their merchandise stall. For an independent effort, I like it, and it proves that there is a feast of talent here in the UK, if only the labels would sit up and take notice. As their name may suggest, Hanging Doll, fronted by the gorgeous sounding Sally Holliday (pictured), play gothic metal not too disimilar to the sort of music that our European counterparts produce on a quite regular basis. And I am sure they are another UK band (like Crimson Tears), who could give some of those bands a decent run for their money aswell. This is pretty good stuff, with the three tracks offered here being classics worthy of ones attention! I would recommend to anybody into this genre to track this EP down (try their myspace site http://www.myspace.com/hangingdoll) and I look forward to a full length album that's due soon. 7.5/10 "(Reviewed by Dave)
RAVENHEART MUSIC WEB REVIEW
"It's only now and then that these sort of mini festivals bring you something rather special and today Hanging Doll were just a band that simply blew me away.
The band were setting up their equipment on stage and my bud Dave turned round and said "that guy served me yesterday when I went to the bar" pointing at guitarist Daniel Leddy, indeed he and drummer Alex both work behind the bar at the venue. The band led by the slight figure of Sally Holliday were just mind-blowing, at last an all-British Power Metal band to take on the might of Nightwish and the like. In fact not only could this band take Nightwish on, they surpass them easily and could quite easily become the next big thing in this genre if they get the right breaks.
The bands symphonic Metal was a majestic as it was epic, as they opened up with ‘Sweet Retribution’ from this point on the band could do no wrong as I and the majority of the crowd present just watched in awe as this vibrant young band put on one hell of a show.
They continued their magnificent set with ‘Hope Springs Eternal’ with Holliday’s scintillating vocals being matched by the gruff extreme vocals of guitarist Daniel Leddy as the pair duetted metal style on this superb slice of Symphonic Power Metal. The band aren’t afraid to put the epic material into the set as the seven minute ‘Iniquity’ showed the bands musical splendour as well as Holliday’s superb vocals, this band have it all.
The band brought the tempo up a few notches with the simply sublime ‘Twist Of A Deity’. Holliday may be small in stature, but she has a towering and powerful voice that simply has to be heard to be believed. With the keyboard wizardry of Aryan Amoli, the pounding rhythm section of Alex Cooper on drums and Kev Wilson on bass, this is the perfect band to take on the might of Euro Power Metal.
The band rounded off this quite astonishing set with ‘Forlorn’ another epic. As far as I was concerned that was it for me, I could have went back to my hotel totally satisfied because I had seen one of the best bands I’ve seen for a long long time.
And I think Roy and Jacki better start advertising for a couple more bar staff because this band are destined for great things and Daniel and Alex are an intricate part of this band. I can’t wait to see them in support of Power Quest later in the year."
MAYFAIR ONLINE WEBZINE, Rock of Ages live Review, by Little Linda
"Up first, and rather surprisingly, is Birmingham’s HANGING DOLL. Compared to the show’s absent headliner, Hanging Doll are a lot slower and more driven by orchestral melodies than the more thunderous symphonic metal of Dawn. Hanging Doll definitely have very strong songs (Even though I hadn’t owned the album at the time, I recognized half the set just from checking them out on myspace), that more than makes up for the fact they might not be as heavy as some of their peers. Singer Sally Holliday is certainly one of the more capturing singers in the UK right now, both in her distinctive beauty and her superb, note-perfect singing. A very good set that left me hopeful for their performance the next day."
Camden Underworld
"Thankfully, Hanging Doll not only provide a great set afterwards, but *absolutely nail it*. They clearly have the crowd behind them, and honestly I don’t think they hit a bad note and get away with playing without any sound problems (Something that had been hitting quite a few of the other bands). What struck me is that by their show in Birmingham, I knew every song, and I had only seen them play once - if this isn’t a sign that this band obviously know how to craft a good song or two, then I don’t know what is. Like yesterday, they close with the utterly mesmorizing ‘Forlorn’ before finishing the evening on a very high note."
"HANGING DOLL ARE FIRMLY THERE IN THE BRITISH CORNER OF GOTHIC METAL"
--- METAL HAMMER APRIL 2008 ---
THE SOUND.
THE DARK INTENSE ORCHESTRAL METAL OF HANGING DOLL COMBINES PURE PASSIONATE AND POWERFULL VOCALS WITH DENSE LEVELS OF NARCISSISM AND EMOTIONAL LONGING. THE FUSION OF BROODING DETUNED GUITAR RIFFS WITH HIGHLY MELODIC STRING PATTERNS AND A METAL CORE IS WITHOUT DOUBT A POTENT MIX, BOTH POWERFULL AND POIGNANT. WITHOUT CONCEEDING TO CONVENTION OR IMITATION HANGING DOLL ARE HAPPY TO DISPEL ALL CRITICS AND DISBELIEVERS WITH THIER MATURE EPIC AND MULTITEXTURED SOUND. THIS IS A BAND WHO ARE BLESSED WITH ASSURED SONG WRITING AND THE EVER PRESENT DICHOTOMY OF LIGHT AND SHADE. THIS IS A BAND WHO SHIFT EFFORTLESSLY FROM A STARK MELODY WITH A SHIMMERING VOCAL TO A POWERFULL RIFF FUELED IMPACT.
ACHIEVEMENTS
IN 2007 HANGING DOLL EXPANDED THIER REPUTATION AND FANBASE BY SECURING MAJOR GIGS AND FESTIVALS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. AT BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2007 HANGING DOLL WERE HONOURED TO PLAY TO A RAMMED TENT IN THE HEART OF DERBYS 2 DAY FESTIVAL, WHICH INCLUDED ACTS SUCH AS LACUNA COIL AND ARCH ENEMY. THE SAME DAY HANGING DOLL WERE ASKED TO PLAY A SHOW WITH EUROPEAN BANDS WOLF AND FIREWIND AT jB'S DUDLEY,WHO HAD PLAYED AT BLOODSTOCK THE DAY BEFORE AS PART OF THIER EUROPEAN TOUR. AS WELL AS THE BLOODSTOCK FESTIVAL HANGING DOLL ALSO FEATURED ON NUMEROUS FESTIVAL'S SUCH AS THE PATRIOT GAMES OUTDOOR FESTIVAL IN WALES SUPPORTING O/D's SAXON. ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE BAND IN 2007 WAS PLAYING AT THE DONNINGTON MOTO GP TO A FILLED INDOOR ARENA. THE BAND ALSO PLAYED A BLISTERING SET AT THE DAMES OF DARKNESS FESTIVAL AT THE STOURBRIDGE ROCK CAFE WHICH FEATURED SEASONS END AND APPARITION.
AFTER PLAYING THE AMAZING CLIVE AID FESTIVAL, ( BENEFIT GIG FOR CLIVE BURR OF IRON MAIDEN ) HANGING DOLL ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THEIR UK TOUR ASWELL AS THE DAMES OF DARKNESS FESTIVAL AND THE RELEASE OF REASON AND MADNESS.
AHEAD DRUMSTICKS
APPLE COMPUTERS
ASHDOWN
EARNIE BALL STRINGS
GIBSON GUITARS
MARSHALL AMPS
PEARL DRUMS
REMO HEADS
ROLAND SYNTHS
RICKENBACKER
SHURE MICS
TRACE ELLIOT
WHARFDALE MICS
YAMAHA MICS
ZILDJIAN CYMBALS
roy@oncebittenmusic.com
Please contact Roy Davis at ONCE BITTEN MUSIC MANAGEMENT for bookings and information.
Just got back from Hard Rock Hell where I saw you guys on the Friday and was blown away. All my metal mates have been thinking I was over-hyping you just because they were in the other room. But now I've sent your link to them all and ordered the first album. This is why I go to live music - for the chance to discover something spine-shiveringly awesome. Thanks so much for autographing your set list for me - you lot made my weekend.
hey how are u... how can i getting u guys cd ?? i love u all and i wanna you cd somehow please let me know how can i getting it and stuff... so how u been late?? <3 Heather
Look forward to catching you Sunday, early start!!! I'll be there reviewing it for Midlands Rocks (www.midlandsrocks.co.uk) and we'll have a photographer as well, so as you're the only local band on sunday you'll probably get the biggest write up!!! Tony
Hey hey guys! I've just watched the "Hope Springs Eternal" video posted on google videos. Amazing work, well dun to Adam Mann and you guys. I expected to see it on your MS page. Keep rockin'
Hey whats up? Just dropping by to say hello. Elocin and I hope your summer has been a good one. Summer isn't done completely yet so there is still time to make this summer one to remember. Take care.** hugs **
