On disc: Mandragora Scream

 
 A Whisper Of Dew
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Madhouse
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Volturna
 
- Lars Björn -
 
 

Volturna

(Massacre Records - 2009)



 
 

 

This is their 4th full length album, 15 songs all together. A mix of the styles dark metal and Gothic metal. There are 15 songs here, but they follow each other like they were telling a story, and this is not a story for children. Many elements of music are found here, Spanish guitar, keyboards, heavy guitars, experimenting voices are the main source of the power that this album has.

One song is different from the others: a cover version of old pop hit Fade To Grey by Visage. It is a cover version, but the dark dark darkness is so massive that you can not see any grey items here. Songs like The Revenant's Eternal Love, A Chance From Him, I'm Going Alone, Blindness, Nails are so special that it's hard to compare it to anything else. The general style is melodical, awesome and mysterious. Mysterious in a dark sublime way. They don't need to be aggressive or powerful at all to make an unforgettable album, it comes to your body and nervesystem the second you put the CD on.

This is not death metal, this is for the souls that already are in hell. If you don't want a feeling of creeping hell under your bed, then don't buy this one. A drawing you can not avoid when you put the CD on. Don't ever turn off the light again.
 
 










Lars Björn


  
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Madhouse

(Lunatic Asylum Records - 2006)



 
 

 

The Italian dark gothic metal band Mandragora Scream had their ups and downs and are now signed to Lunatic Asylum Records. Madhouse is their 3rd album and so the one to make it or break it.

Symphonically and dark start the album off with Vlad - an intro - and leads into Dark Lantern. A catchy dark tune with mean vocals as counter part to the catchy clean parts. This isn't a typical dark metal song! With Redeemer they more fit the genre description, but what makes them differ is the voice of Morgan Lacroix who rarely use angel-like vocals. Her voice is powerful and deep - like on Redeemer. A monk choir leads into the heavy Frail Midnight. Here Morgan is joined on vocals by guitarist Terry Horn. Its one of the highlights on Madhouse - which is a bit more commercial then the predecessors as it has more catchy melodies. But they are still far away from the dark pop of bands like HIM! The wind howls on Blight Thrills... and Morgan sounds fragile and vulnerable. But then the song explodes and get an heavy edge. Acoustically starts Frozen Space - a beautiful ballad. Nothing kitschy, only true emotions. They stripped the song down to most essential and that's what makes it shine. With Haunted Heart they gain back heaviness... A dark, heavy rocker. More symphonic and with operatic vocal parts as well as dark, deep whispers they present Silence.

Dark metal which isn't following the trend and has to offer a vast variety within the limits. The songs are quite good, but they lack the certain something - at least for me. Want to check them out? Listen to Frail Midnight, Haunted Heart, Ghost Of Swan, Blight Thrills and Frozen Space.
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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A Whisper Of Dew

(Nuclear Blast - 2002)



 
 

 

Spoken, almost whispered words of a woman lead into the album A Whisper Of Dew. The Italian quartet is presenting gothic rock. The opening intro is called Isserja's Hope and is flowing into Silent Lullabies. A melancholy track. The music of Mandragora Scream is based on gothic, but has much more to offer. They create a soundtrack with elements of different genres. The story is based on a vampire concept. Each song deals with a different theory. Singer and founder Morgan Lacroix got inspired by the words of the Spanish writer Julio Angel Olivares Merino. The lyrics are very important to Morgan and so you should take the time to read the lyrics to catch the dark spirit of the music and to let the music drag you into the story.

And so I can just recommend to give it a try, coz words can't describe this at all.
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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           ©2008-2010 by Claudia Ehrhardt • E-Mail: contact@ice-vajal.com