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Eloa Vadaath: A bare reminiscence of infected wonderlands

17/06/10 || Habakuk

Read that title again: “A bare reminiscence of infected wonderlands” – That’s beautiful man. There are two countries that this band could be from, judging from a cheese-o-rama album name like that: One’s Germany, but not this time. The other one: Mighty Italy! Checking out the mp3s (yes, we staffers do not get this shit sent by mail, unfortunately), I am obviously hoping for a worthy successor to the kings of cheese, Rhapsody. A hasty look at the track list confirms my expectations. Pretentious. Something’s a bit odd, though, but I can’t place it. However, doubts are wiped away by an keyboard-meets-chanting intro. Just as I planned!

Hey, wait. The fucken intro ain’t bad at all. You know, I’ve been playing Dragon Age as of late (sue me, I got it for free.), and this wouldn’t sound out of place in that game. In case you’re wondering, that is a good thing, it features some nice atmospheric stuff.

When the next song comes to the first distorted part of the album, a short knowing smile flashes across my face – thin, weak guitars and underlying drumming. However, just when I think I can write this off as shitty power metal, something clicks. This is not even power metal or trying to be anywhere near Rhapsody and the likes – under the weak production hull lies a somewhat progressive metal album. There are intricate melodies, dynamics, songwriting skills, awesome female vocals, too. Fucken hell, that caught me off-guard.

If these Italians got themselves a decent production, this would actually be quite fucken good! I mean, a shining moment are the somewhat operatic female vocals and at times the violins – and believe me when I tell you I usually hate that shit with a passion. So, these guys and girl of unknown name must be on to something. And it’s not the half black / half death metal distorted parts, which need a lot of work riff-wise and mostly in the production. As it is, they sound like a bedroom band’s attempt at heaviness with a bit of blasting. Not because of the playing, the musicianship is good, but to me it almost seems like these folks usually play other styles of music (All the non-metal instruments have a fantastic sound, too!) and for some reason try to add a heavy edge – results: half-assed.

Still, and I marvel at the songwriting prowess on display, there is a certain complexity and groove to be found, and the multiple vocal approach works pretty well with guttural semi-black metal growls (yes, guttural and black metal) plus clean male and female voices. This, friends, Romans, countrymen – is definitely listenable! Seriously, should I ever stumble across another album by these guys, I’ll be interested in what they have developed into. Homework until then: Better riffs, a bit less instrumental noodling, better production, conciseness. And sign the girl.

So now in hindsight (yeah, fucken Internet), I take a look at the cover. Better late than never, eh? Doesn’t look so power metallish, after all. Neither do the song titles. More like post-rock or something, and that’s alright, as in the overall flow, there are indeed hints of “post-“whatever to be found. The “wonderlands” bit still sucks, though. Fuck wonderlands, infected or not.

6,5: 6,5

Information
Released: 2010
Label: West Witch Records
Website: Eloa Vadaath MySpace
Band
Marco Paltanin: vocals, guitar, tablâ, sitar
Riccardo Paltanin: vocals, keyboard, violin
Nicollò Cavallaro: bass, backing vocals
Mirko Cirelli: drums, percussions

Tracklist
01. Coalesce: A murmuring plight of Nephilisms (Intro)
02. 64 A.D. – Le Flambeau
03. Coalesce Part I: A Perverter Among The Kainites
04. The Navidson Record
05. Elysian Fields
06. The temptation chronicles
07. What are you seeing on your fork?
08. Uncontaminated
09. Towers of silence
10. A bare reminiscnece of infected wonderlands
11. Coalesce Part II

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