Cost: $2.00
Obviously as the title suggests, a compilation of Italian bands. Mixed genres and no extreme metal but I believe this is the most metal focused of the three volumes.
1. Deadline - Flight of a Free Man
Solid heavy/power metal with galloping parts. The accent and overenunciation of some words makes the singer sound somewhat Japanese to me.
2. Xteria - Tutto Normale
The initial keyboards make you think this is going to be overly sweet, even pomp rock stuff, although the choruses end up being quite classy prog metal.
3. Fucktotum - Zingara
Rumbly stuff with whispered main vocals that I think was intended to be a sort of avant-garde thrash. It kind of is to a certain extent, but the groovy main riff and aggro backing vox make it just as much groove metal. I had much higher hopes considering the band name.
4. Sisthema - The New Commandements
Groove metal with a slightly industrial edge from the riffs and distorted vocals.
5. Porco Del Reato - Il Mondo Abbandonato
Some sort of modernized stuff, mixing DJ effects/scratching, industrial, groove metal, and hardcore elements.
6. SI.S.M.A. - Breeding Rage
Nu. The accented rap-talking vocals are actually kind of amusing for one listen through and the song vaguely reminds me of Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Give It Away."
7. Arcadia - Tool
Begins and ends with a bouncy groove metal riff, although after about a minute they switch to more Metallica-like thrashing, including a ballady "Sanitarium"/"Nothing Else Matters" part. Also has whispered vocals in certain spots.
8. The Piazza - Dreamlike Vision
Definitely punkish but rather than energetic or spastic, it's very laid back. A mix of punk and '90s alternative rock?
9. Hiroshima Mon Amour - Lontani Da Una Città Di Luce
Some sort of minimalist take on '80s new wave music, but then has somewhat neoclassical-sounding sections.
10. Veil of Maya - Is Your Life
Progressive/power metal with some OK if overzealous shredding and a decent mellow bridge, though the unpolished vocals and poor mix make this seem rather amateurish.
11. Marutied - God Will Kill You
Punk.
12. Frozen Child - Here Comes the Absent
Darkwave/gothic.
13. Anthem - Sweet Moon
Booklet confirms this is the same Anthem that was pre-Ivory and put out some power metal demos. However, this quirky instrumental with some speedy shredding is definitely more like some sort of progressive metal. Not terrible but probably not the most flattering track for a compilation with only one song by them.
14. Clench - I Hate the World
Not as angsty as you would expect from the title. Intially I was just going to call this some kind of slow groove metal, although if you look past the vocals, there are some stoner rock/alternative and even some Sabbathy sensibilities here too. Still doesn't help that much.
15. Nomad Barbie - Special K
Some electronic/industrial stuff, might have been somewhat catchy without the spoken vocals.
16. Daimones - The Sword of Shannara
By now I was thinking Deadline wouldn't have any real competition on this comp., and then this came up. Galloping riffage segues into speed/power metal, maybe a bit reminiscent of late '80s Running Wild.
17. Betelgeuse - Escape from Reality
More speedy power metal. The high vocals are the most charismatic out of any bands on the comp., and the guitarwork seems to be the most proficient. Unfortunately, at a bit under 3 minutes, the song is the second shortest on the comp., and after nearly a minute of epic intro stuff, it feels very rushed and unsatisfying. I will say the twin axework at the end is probably the best part of the entire CD, though.
18. Stomp - Luce Lieve
Some sort of downtuned rock.
No comments:
Post a Comment