Bloody Mary certainly need no introduction: since 2000 the Milanese band has been delighting us with a distinctive and captivating gothic rock, born of a love for groups such as H.I.M., The Cult and Fields Of The Nephilim, but one that puts the sound back into play, transforming and shaping the notes at will until it reaches a particular, and personal, alchemy.
"Anno Zero" proves to be a true starting point for the Milanese five-piece: Aldebran's sensual, deep voice accompanies us throughout the platter like an exquisite host, and from the opener it is already clear that we are facing a mature album, written with passion and played with precision and care for detail.
"Did You Let Me Know" and "Judith" are two clear examples, since in my opinion these tracks far surpass the single "Crawling" in quality and drive. And this can only be a positive sign, given that singles are usually the compositional peak of a CD: in this case, instead, there is much more on the table than meets the eye.
This is therefore a record that marks a clear watershed in the Lombard band's discography: from now on, the benchmark for judging these guys will be this CD, and nothing else. Ten songs capable of getting the name Bloody Mary written in capital letters among the gothic rock releases of 2014. And I am proud that it is an Italian band that has been putting sweat and blood into both studio and live work for fourteen years.
Thank you, guys, and until next time, hoping to see you live soon!
First published in Italian; in English here. Where it appeared ↗