Poets of the Fall recently released a note on their facebook page about a band that they will be performing with called Phoenix Effect. Poets of the Fall also happen to be helping with the production and songwriting of Phoenix Effect's first album, so I decided to give their first single, 'Broken Promises,' a listen. (You can listen yourself here or here).

The lead singer, Janne Kärkkäinen, is a former member of Sunrise Avenue, who has had recent success with their album On The Way to Wonderland in Europe. 'Broken Promises' is a little edgier than most of Sunrise Avenue's work, but it's also a whole lot better.

'Broken Promises' is full of strong guitar riffs, but it also has some excellent lyrics (Poets of the Fall's Marko is participating in the songwriting, so who would expect anything less?) and "power" to it without being screamy or overdone. Hopefully Janne and Phoenix Effect can carry the effect on to the whole album while still keeping it fresh, because it is a sound that works. 'Broken Promises' instantly catches you and begs to be played over again and again.

Undoubtedly, 'Broken Promises' is a song about Kärkkäinen's ousting from Sunrise Avenue, but it may just be the best thing that has happened to him. The album is set to be released sometime in early 2009. You can find more about Phoenix Effect at their webpage. 'Broken Promises' is available for $0.89 at Amazon as a DRM-Free MP3 download. Check it out!

Broken Promises Lyrics

You let me in so I could guide your hand,
A quest for gold that yielded lead,
So many things I still don't understand,
Would rear their ugly heads instead

No instigation
just run away
With nothing to fall back on
no skin left to flay

(Chorus)
What you needed the most
were no more of these ghosts of my
broken promises
What you needed the most
never even came close to my
broken promises

Sedated sorrow palms a lazy coin,
You'll find no vindication here,
Flashing a fast lane if you've come to join,
The ill fated fortune of the year

Castles we built now
crumble like smiles
Skeleton hope now
eaten by trials

(Chorus)

How you choose to wear your heart,
is how they’ll cast your part,
How you choose to wear your heart
You wear a world upon your sleeve,
The way you choose to wear your heart,
is how they will tear you apart,
Do you choose to save the world or to deceive

(Chorus)