While waiting to hear the new graveyard effort of our dark dandies, "Party music for graveyards" (certainly the CD this writer awaits most in gothic rock, after the letdown of the 69 Eyes in "twilight-emo style"...!), we dust off their 2005 debut CD "Blood 'n' roll", an excellent example of sexy, darkly guitar-driven gothic rock that is, for once — though Svenia and Opera Noire also fly the gothic rock flag high! — entirely Italian.
"Icy blue", the CD's first track, is already a dark, decadent little gem with a catchy, irresistible chorus. The next, "Drops", is more in the style of the 69 Eyes — the "Blessed be" period — as is "I won't be unfeeling", which brings back the atmosphere of HIM's first CD — that "Greatest lovesongs vol 666" which, for better or worse, launched "chart" gothic rock — and indeed our boys quote songs like "Your sweet 666" or "It's all tears".
Aldebran's voice, then, is very expressive: sexy without sounding effeminate or cloying — which is exactly where the more famous Ville Valo often wears thin.
"Cease to burn" is metallised, with an almost doom riff, very Type O Negative, "All Hallow's eve" style. "It's too late" is breezier, Malice in Wonderland style, while "Judas spite" has a minimal rhythm section in favour of the vocals, always up front. "The 2nd chance" is simple and immediate (lovely vocal lines!).
"Learing to fly" is perhaps the track that blends least with the preceding, typically gothic rock ones: it is much calmer and easier, perhaps out of context.
"Little sister", like "Icy blue", is the CD's other goth hit: fine powerful riffs, drums up front, always marking time, a killer chorus! If you already love the 69 Eyes' cult songs "Brandon Lee" and "Don't turn your back on fear", you will love this incredible goth hit by our Milanese dandies too, which fuses at its best the violet atmospheres of gothic rock in the classic sense.
The closing "Before the rain" ends a CD of a truly excellent level. It is really hard to find flaws, because the songs are all consistent and the influences — Sisters of Mercy, early HIM, the 69 Eyes, the Tiamat of "Judas Christ" — never turn into copying for its own sake. Good creativity and personal taste mark our boys' music.
After all, the title says it all: blood and (rock'n') roll... Add bohemian artistic references and those of the Scapigliatura, absinthe, and you get Bloody Mary!
We wish this band ever-growing international success, and perhaps a fine musical collaboration with other groups!!
Rating: 8
First published in Italian; in English here. Where it appeared ↗