Music / Stream of Passion

The final lineup. Left to right: Eric, Johan, Marcela, Jeffrey, Martijn, Stephan

Stream of Passion are a Dutch Symphonic Metal band founded by Arjen Anthony Lucassen and Marcela Bovio, a Mexican violinist and singer known for her involvement in Ayreon's The Human Equation, in 2005. After one album with the project, Arjen (along with two others) left the band for it to find its own directions. Since then, SOP have produced three more albums with a stable lineup that lasted up until 2016, when they decided to part ways altogether.

In October 2022 they announced the band would get back together, perform two reunion shows and record a new EP.

Members

Final lineup

• Marcela Bovio - vocals, violin (2005-2016, 2022-)
• Johan van Stratum - bass (2005-2016, 2022-)
• Eric Hazebroek - guitars (2007–2016, 2022-)
• Stephan Schultz - guitars (2007–2016, 2022-)
• Jeffrey Revet - keyboards, synthesizers, piano (2007–2016, 2022-)
• Martijn Peters - drums (2009–2016, 2022-)

Former members

• Arjen Anthony Lucassen - guitars, keyboards, backing vocals (2005–2007)
• Lori Linstruth - guitars (2005–2007)
• Alejandro Millán - keyboards, piano, live backing vocals (2005–2007)
• Davy Mickers - drums (2005–2009)

Session musicians

• Damian Wilson - vocals, acoustic guitar (live, 2006)
• Diana Bovio - backing vocals (live, 2006–2007)
• Joost van den Broek - production, mixing, mastering, songwriting (studio, 2009-2016)
• André Borgman - drums (live, 2009)

Discography

• Embrace the Storm (2005)
  "Out in the Real World"
  "Passion"
  • Live in the Real World (2006, live)
• The Flame Within (2009)
  "In the End"
• Darker Days (2011)
  "Collide"
  "The Scarlet Mark"
• A War of Our Own (2014)
  "A War of Our Own"
  "Monster"
  • Memento (2016, live)

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Tropes of Passion

• Anti-Love Song: "Passion".
  A dangerous stream of passion,
  Flows through my veins.
  Infecting my mind with madness,
  Blurring my senses.
  My fingers crawl like spiders,
  Caressing the wall,
  In desperate need of screaming,
  For a way out
• Cover Version:
  • "When The Levee Breaks" by Kansas Joe and Memphis Minnie.
  • "Street Spirit" by Radiohead.
  • A shortened version of "I Have a Right" by Sonata Arctica.
• Design Student's Orgasm: The album covers are basically Marcela surrounded by this trope.
• Destructive Romance:
  • "Games We Play" is about lovers who constantly lie to, hurt, and blame each other.
    You'll tear me apart in the course of the game
    [...]
    I'll tear you apart, trust me I know just the way
  • "Autophobia" is about a relationship built on the fear of being alone and tainted from the start.
• Epic Rocking: Quite a few songs last over five minutes.
• Genre Mashup: Progressive Symphonic Gothic Metal.
• Hates Being Alone: "Autophobia", as the title implies, is about a couple stuck in Destructive Romance because both are too afraid of being alone.
• Haunted House: Used in "Autophobia" as a metaphor for Destructive Romance.
• Incredibly Long Note: Marcela belts an A#4 in "Monster" and makes it last for up to twelve full seconds before dropping back to A4 for five more.
• It's All My Fault: Used sarcastically in "A Part of You."
  Blame me for every flaw
  What are you waiting for?
  It's my fault; it's my own fault
• Kill It with Fire: "Burnind Star":
  Bring me the burning star / That will erase our crimes and errors
• Longest Song Goes Last: "Calliopeia", the last track to Embrace the Storm, clocks in at 5:39.
• Long Runner Lineup: The last Sixth Ranger to this band was drummer Martijn Peters who replaced Davy Mickers in 2009.
• Love Martyr: Quite a few of their songs have shades of this.
  • "When You Hurt Me the Most":
    Pain is sweeter coming from your hand,
    I love you when you hurt me the most
  • "A Part Of You":
    Turn loose the demons
    That control your ways
    Unleash your anger
    What are you waiting for
    Come on, my dear
    I can take the blow
    Blame it all on me
    What are you waiting for?
  • "Don't Let Go":
    Change me, stain me, never let me go
    I long for a moment to drown in your song
    Take me, break me, never let me go
    As long as the future keeps waiting for us
• Multilingual Song: Marcela intersperses Spanish and English in "Reborn," "Our Cause," "Darker Days," "Monster," "Exile," and "Don't Let Go". The spoken segment of their cover of "I Have a Right" is also in Spanish.
• Never My Fault: In "Games We Play," both parties have this mindset:
  I'll take the weaknesses that rattle my life and blame you for them
  How have I let you down, what do you mean?
  You can't just take the pain in all that you see and blame me for it
• Non-Appearing Title: "Autophobia."
• One-Woman Wail: Marcela has a penchant for bursting into operatic Melismatic Vocals every so often.
• "Psycho" Strings: Distressed violin notes are part of their Signature Style. For instance, the passage that opens "Monster" creates a feeling of anxiety.
• Singer Namedrop: "Passion". The opener, no less.
  A dangerous stream of passion / Flows through my veins
• Working with the Ex: Alejandro Millán and Marcela Bovio were both still in Elfonía when Stream of Passion was born, and continued working together for Embrace the Storm after the band broke up, just until Alejandro left. After they broke up, Marcela and Johan got together and were married for a couple of years. They divorced, but continued to play together in various projects and the reunion of So P.

Stream of music video tropes:

• Color Wash: "Passion" and "In the End". Notably the latter for following the flame theme with red lighting.
• Eye Scream: The fate of the man who killed the protagonist's parents in "Monster".
• High-Class Gloves: Marcela in "Out in the Real World". Sometimes paired with a nice hat.
• Malevolent Masked Men: "Monster" has skulls for masks. Notably, it's only the guys who wear it as Marcela instead has Facial Markings.
• Pass the Popcorn: Sadly, Marcela doesn't have anyone to pass the popcorn to while watching Monster.
• Shout-Out: "Monster" takes oh so much after Batman.
• Unnaturally Blue Lighting: "Out in the Real World".

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