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Hometown: Paris, FR
Label: Scarlet Records
Website: www.whyzdom.fr
Sounds Like: Epica, Within Temptation, Nightwish, Therion, Evanescence
Genre: Metal
Think of a huge orchestra and a massive symphonic choir intertwined with powerful riffs and enchanting melodies from a clear and passionate feminine voice, and you'll get an idea of what WHYZDOM have managed to create. Their classical influences ranging from the romantic to the contemporary period, as well as the appealing melodies that drive the songs, make their sound utterly unmistakeable in an ever growing scene.
The project was founded by the guitarist and orchestrator Vynce Leff in early 2007, already well known in the progressive sphere having produced several successful albums for the British label Cyclops Records. After recruiting the band members, a first EP "Daughter Of The Night" was recorded less than 6 months from the band's inception. It got instant acclaim from reviewers and music fans around the world, as well as several awards and plaudits (Best French Band 2008 - Metalsymphonique.com, Best EP - HeavyLaw.com, etc).
Although still a young band, WHYZDOM were invited to play in several festivals in France - most of the time as headliner - and won the Metal Female Voices Fest Contest in Belgium in October 2008. They played in the 7th edition of this great Festival (17/10/2009) and also played as official support to DELAIN to launch their début album.
In June 2010, WHYZDOM lead vocalist Telya Melane left the band. Lisa Middelhauve, former XANDRIA singer, accepted to be "guest lead vocalist" for the band performance at the RAISMES FEST 2010 and for their concert in PARIS as support for TARJA.
Since then the band composed and recorded their new album "BLIND?" (with temporary vocalist Elvyne Lorient), which was released on 30th October 2012 by the great European Metal label SCARLET RECORDS. Marie Rouyer (Now Marie Mac Leod when she gets married in 2015) became their new front woman in January 2013.
After a great series of gig throughout Europe, playing in great fests (DAMES OF DARKNESS in the UK with DELAIN, NIGHT OF THE BEAUTIES in Germany, MENNECY METAL FEST in France with CRUCIFIED BARBARA), they record their third album "SYMPHONY FOR A HOPELESS GOD" which was released in February 2015, again acclaimed by reviewers around the world. Success is such that they are invited to play even bigger fests, like MADE OF METAL FEST in Czech Republic with EPICA, BELPHEGOR, AMORPHIS, FemME METAL EVENT in the Netherlands with LACUNA COIL, THERION, DAMES OF DARKNESS, with SIRENIA.
They just announced the release of their first DVD "Alive" scheduled for 31.03.2016, while they shortly pause until september 2016 for Marie's pregnancy. A first great show in Paris is already announced on 26.11.2016 !
"What Vynce was able to create with the orchestral arrangements is mindblowing, each song has something to keep the listener happy and interested. Whyzdom has made a cd that is just amazing, and makes their debut cd look like an afterthought. If you are a fan of symphonic female led metal bands, this cd is going to blow you away. What a comeback cd from a band that I thought gave us their best cd with their debut, this is a band that I just feel with each cd will be getting better and better"
James D. - Wicked Channel
“The mighty French formation, founded in 2007 by guitarist Vynce Leff, return with the eagerly anticipated follow up to their outstanding 2009 début, ‘From the Brink of Infinity’. Their music sits in it’s own unique place, they are the prog rock and metal loving cousins of a modern but heavier Nightwish and a grow less Epica. [...] the orchestral arrangement's by Vynce are simply wondrous. Whyzdom have produced a mind boggling, colossal, awe inspiring album that will have every symphonic metal fan salivating, especially those of a prog persuasion. Their website can be found here, a mind blowing 9.5/10”
Phil - Ravenheart Music
“Blind? provides music that pretty much defines this musical genre for the 21st century. If there is better music out there, I haven’t heard it. Of course, that’s one man’s opinion. But, I’ve been listening for a long time. And this one is one to be treasured. A 10 is the minimum I can grade this one at. You may well go beyond that. Either way, you won’t be disappointed. A classic.”
Doctor T. - Sonic Cathedral
“Opting to eschew the generic Symphonic Metal tag in favour of what they label "Philharmonic Metal", it's a rather apt term to describe their music and compositional style. Think Nightwish but with bigger and more extravagant orchestral arrangements that are integrated with the metal parts and you'll be part way there in comprehending how Whyzdom sound. That is not to say they sound like Nightwish, rather they've crafted a musical identity of their own but it carries a similar vibe to how Tuomas Holopainen approaches the orchestral/metal fusion. (...) In short, I cannot fault Whyzdom's live UK debut at all. They came, they conquered and have undoubtedly widened their fanbase in the process. If ever a band deserved a big break then it's this talented bunch of French musicians. Let's hope they start receiving the wider exposure they deserve.”
Mark Holmes - Metal Discovery
“Following on from Apparition , we had French band Whyzdom playing its first gig in the UK and f*ck me did they play it.. Not only was the vocalist on par with Epica’s Simone Simons on the beauty stakes, but she could also give her a run for the money on the vocal stakes aswell. At last, we had some decent female metal that I love and it stood head over heels above the rest.”
Rob Stanley - Midlands Rocks
“OK boys and girls, we have a bit of a problem here. Back last year, we reviewed an EP that served as a coming out effort by Whyzdom. It was called Daughter of the Night and it included 4 tracks that pretty much blew this reviewer out of his chair, as it did for a number of reviewers around the globe. It rightfully drew an 11 on a 10-point scale and I wasn’t kidding. Talk was that a follow up was in the works, with about 8 or 9 songs and band honcho Vynce Leff guaranteed me it would be worth the wait. Well, it’s here, complete with 12 tracks. . . and it’s significantly better than the EP that preceded it. So, how do we rate it? [...]
When I suggested in the previous review that Whyzdom would be a hit, I didn’t realize they would be this successful. But Brink takes them solidly to the limelight; it’s everything that Daughter was and much, much more.”
Doctor T - Sonic Cathedral
